In what the Crown attorney called a case of "large-scale fraud," a Sudbury woman was sentenced on Friday to 16 months in prison.
Sandra Baggs, 47, pleaded guilty Jan. 25, 2019, to two counts of fraud over $5,000 after taking money from two local small businesses. Sentencing was delayed, however, to allow Baggs get her affairs in order before going to prison.
Justice Andre Guay handed down the sentence Sept. 6 in a Sudbury court room after an agreed statement of facts was submitted by the Crown and defence. In addition to jail time, Baggs was given 18 months probation and two freestanding restitution orders to pay back the money she stole from both businesses. Freestanding means there's no time frame by which Baggs must pay back the money.
Baggs was hired by NIM Disposal in November 2012, where she bilked the company of more than $86,000.
She was then hired by Lacroix Construction and made 660 fraudulent charges on two different credit cards, totaling about $250,000 before she was fired in July 2017. Baggs hid statements and changed online account settings so her employer wouldn't see what she was doing.
Owner Barry Lacroix read his victim impact statement during Friday's proceedings, while NIM Disposal owner Erika Greenspoon submitted her victim impact statement. She was not in court Friday.
Lacroix was emotional while delivering his statement, having to pause regularly to regain his composure.
He said he suffers from severe anxiety as a result, calling his hiring of Baggs one of the “biggest regrets” of his life, and that the theft started almost immediately after she was hired.
“Never in a million years would I have suspected this woman was capable of committing such acts,” Lacroix said. “She's a wolf in sheep's clothing.”
When presented proof her theft, Lacroix said he was “dumbfounded, shocked and outraged.”
He said he has had many sleepless nights going over in his mind how he couldn't see what was happening, and that he has lost trust in so many people.
His company has suffered, too, as have the 60-plus people employed there, as it wasn't financially feasible after the fraud came to light to give his employees bonuses or other financial perks.
Assistant Crown attorney Bailey Rudnick said the public needs to be protected from Baggs going forward.
As part of her sentencing, the 47-year-old woman is not to possess any identification or credit card data strips issued in her name, and is not to work or volunteer in any position that involves bookkeeping, accounting or in any office environment where she can access financial documents including cheques, debit cards, online banking or negotiable instruments.
She is to have no contact with either Barry Lacroix or Erika Greenspoon (of NIM Disposal) or to be within 100 metres of either individual.
Furthermore, Baggs is required to seek counselling and is prohibited from having credit cards.
Rudnick said there's no indication as to where the money she stole went, and that the court could only assume it went to “increase her personal well being to the detriment” of the individuals who lawfully had a right to that money.
“This type of offence isn't remotely victimless, and it has a serious impact on people's lives, on the companies and their ability to pay their employees,” said Rudnick. “These consequences are directly attributable to Ms. Baggs.”
However, Baggs' lawyer, Terry Waltenbury, said his client has started the restitution process, giving each company $250 a month since January. To date, each company has received $2,000 each.
This isn't Baggs' first time being convicted of fraud. She has a prior conviction from 2005 of fraud over $5,000, where she received a conditional six-month sentence.
In addressing the court, Baggs said she fully accepts responsibility for her actions. She's embarrassed by it and is filled with “sadness and regret.”
“I believe I can turn my life around, given the chance,” she said.
