CHATHAM — A former employee who pleaded guilty to defrauding the United Way of Chatham-Kent of about $300,000 made a tearful apology in Chatham court Wednesday before receiving a nearly two-year sentence of house arrest.
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“I am really sorry for what I have done,” Veronica Whittal, 49, said at her sentencing hearing. “If I could take back, I would.”
“I feel terrible,” she added, expressing regret for the embarrassment she has caused her family.
A pre-sentence report noted Whittal has a gambling addiction, which she said she is working on.
The Crown and defence jointly sought a conditional sentence of 18 months to two years of house arrest.
Lawyer Ken Marley said his client had since taken steps on her own to start counselling to address her gambling addiction, including a residential placement.
Noting these efforts were “not strategic responses to being charged criminally,” Marley said Whittal has “genuine remorse” for her crime.
“She should be commended for the steps she has taken as well as punished for the offence she’s committed,” he said.
Assistant Crown attorney Julie Ghag said that, ordinarily, a fraud of more than $100,000 would result in significant jail time.
Demoralizing for the entire United Way team
The pre-sentence report indicated the impact on the charity of losing $302,341.37, she said, noting then-interim chief executive Maureen Geddes said what Whittal did “has been demoralizing for the entire United Way team.”
Publicity about the fraud has damaged local faith in a national brand that fundraises in the community, Geddes said in the report.
According to an agreed statement of facts presented when Whittal pleaded guilty to fraud over $5,000 last Oct. 11, Geddes turned over to Chatham-Kent police independent audit findings that the agency was defrauded through electronic fund transfers between Oct. 8, 2021, and Oct. 20, 2022.
Whittal created email addresses similar to those of vendors associated with the United Way and e-transferred false payments totalling $302,341.37 to her bank account
Ghag said having to conduct an audit “was a great expense and disruption to the organization.”
The joint submission calls for Whittal to make restitution of $302,341.37 and Ghag asked the court to create a payment schedule and deadline.
Ontario Justice Marnie Vickerd handed down a sentence of 23 months of house arrest along with a restitution order for Whittal to repay the $302,341.37 to the United Way, but with no payment schedule.
Prior to Vickerd giving her decision on sentencing, Ghag informed the court following a discussion with Geddes during a break in the proceedings, that Whittal denied responsibility in a civil suit that was filed against her by the United Way.
The civil suit was dropped by the agency when the criminal charge was laid.
The court also heard it was a very difficult decision for the United Way to go public with the matter out of concern for the reputational and financial harm that could result.
Ghag told the court the financial impact has gone beyond the $300,000 loss from the fraud with the estimated financial toll due to loss of trust and reputation in the community exceeded “a few million dollars.”
Although the judge gave Whittal credit for pleading guilty and seeking counselling to address her gambling addiction, Vickerd said the damage done to United Way “cannot be quantified.” She added the fraud also impacted the programs and services that serve the community’s most vulnerable residents.
It was announced last June that the Chatham-Kent United Way was merging with the Windsor-Essex agency.
Through its programs and funding supports, the charity brings people and organizations together to meet community needs and tackle complex social issues.