CHATHAM – A former United Way of Chatham-Kent employee has pleaded guilty to fraud after the local non-profit agency discovered it had been defrauded of more than $300,000.
Veronica Whittal, 49, of Tilbury, entered a guilty plea in a Chatham court on Friday.
An agreed statement of facts presented by assistant Crown attorney Kate Bailey noted that on Oct. 2, 2023, the local United Way’s acting chief executive turned over documents from an independent audit that found the agency had been defrauded via electronic transfers between Oct. 8, 2021, and Oct. 20, 2022.
Whittal allegedly created email addresses similar to those of vendors associated with the United Way and e-transferred false payments totalling $302,341.37 that were deposited to her own bank account, court heard.
Chatham-Kent police got access to Whittal’s bank records by judicial order and United Way confirmed her bank account, the Crown said, adding police agreed the accused had taken the money from the agency.
Whittal’s lawyer, Ken Marley, requested his client remain out of custody while a pre-sentence report is completed. The Crown and defence are “contemplating a joint recommendation for a conditional sentence,” he added.
Whittal “admits her guilt and waives her right to trial,” Marley said, adding she understands even with a joint submission, the sentencing decision is up to the judge.
Before a pre-sentence report was ordered, Marley submitted a number of letters to the court including one from the Canadian Mental Health Association confirming his client’s participation in counselling.
Other letters confirmed Whittal had completed a residential gambling addiction program and committed to an after-care program at a Windsor hospital and had participated in mental health and addictions counselling at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.
Whittal is slated to return to court on Jan. 15 for a sentencing hearing.