Jill Margaret Braun was handed 22 months jail followed by three years probation for ripping off her employer in Parksville between 2008 and 2009. (File Photo/NanamoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

repeat offender

Woman jailed for defrauding $31K from Parksville employer

Oct 8, 2021 | 2:13 PM

NANAIMO — A judge sternly rejected a repeat fraudster’s bid to avoid jail several years following a brazen and costly workplace scam.

Jill Margaret Braun, 57, was sentenced to 22 months in jail and two years probation on Wednesday, Oct. 6 in provincial court in Nanaimo for defrauding her employer out of $31,247 between late 2008 and late 2009.

The lengthy legal odyssey was drawn out primarily because the offender fled to Alberta where she lived for several years because Braun stated her ailing husband received better cancer care in Calgary.

“Ms. Braun’s fraud was not a one-off, but rather was committed over a period of about one year and involved her writing 40 fraudulent cheques. Ms. Braun’s offending continued and only ended when her employment was terminated,” provincial court judge Ronald Lamperson said.

Court was told Braun’s crooked bookkeeping involved writing cheques to other parties and herself. She then deposited all of the cheques ranging between $135 and $1,500 into her bank account.

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Braun was fired in December 2009 as her employer became suspicious of her conduct.

A subsequent investigation by Oceanside RCMP and a private forensics accountant untangled the scam, resulting in charges laid in 2011.

The offender had three prior convictions for defrauding different employers involving $57,000 in unpaid restitution, court was told.

A detailed recent psychologist’s report shed light on why Braun ripped off her Parksville employer.

The report showed Braun’s longstanding gambling addiction was the root cause of her offending.

Slot machines quickly hooked Braun in 1997, which started as an exciting thrill before spinning out of control leading to financial ruin.

Braun used her employer’s pocket book to again cover her financial losses and to hide her gambling problem from her husband in her latest offending.

The psychologist reported Braun tended to amplify negative life events to seemingly justify her actions.

“She was often focused on the impact her offending has had on her life without acknowledging the financial impact her actions had on the company she stole from.”

A victim impact statement from a company owner outlined substantial stress and financial hardship Braun’s offending caused.

Her fraudulent behaviour started six months after her probation conditions expired for a separate fraudulent workplace scheme, court was told.

Braun was flagged as a moderate risk to re-offend and cited for not doing enough to properly suppress her gambling addiction.

She was ordered to pay back the owner of the Parksville company $24,000, which reflected $7,100 already awarded to the firm through a civil claim.

Judge Lamperson cautioned it was unlikely Braun will be able to ever pay a significant portion of what’s owed back, pointing to prior unpaid restitution bills dating back many years and the fact she’s unemployed.

As Braun stood in court to hear her punishment, Judge Lamperson said her significant criminal record and fleeing for years to avoid responsibility factored heavily into his decision.

“I conclude that a conditional sentence order, even with punitive conditions such as house arrest and community work service, would not adequately deter like-minded individuals from committing similar offences and would not sufficiently denounce her criminal conduct.”

While Braun issued an apology earlier in court, Lamperson questioned how remorseful she really is.

Crown counsel had sought a four year federal prison sentence, while Braun’s lawyer pushed for a two year non custodial sentence followed by three years probation.

A 20 year order applied to Braun prevents her from being in a position of authority involving other people’s money as an employee or volunteer.

Two other forgery fraud charges against Braun were dropped by the Crown.

Braun lives in Langley and will continue living there post-release with her husband.

The maximum punishment for a fraud over $5,000 conviction in Canada is 14-years in prison.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes