An Ivorian-born man was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for his central role in a love scam that stole $2.4 million from 39 Quebec victims. He is then expelled from Canada.
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Sogli Espoir Kouassi will no longer be a free man in Canadian territory.
The 37-year-old was sentenced on Tuesday by Judge Mario Tremblay to a five-year prison sentence for sentimental fraud that left a mark on the victims he met.
Pierre-Paul Biron, Journal de Quebec
And at the end of that verdict, the man who was in Canada as a fugitive would be expelled from the country, “an inevitable indirect consequence” of his crime, the judge stressed.
Treason
Kouassi acted as a transmission band, “like an antenna in Quebec,” in a vast network to channel victims’ money to Ivory Coast. Of the $2.4 million snatched from the victims, evidence shows that $800,000 went directly through the scammer, who allegedly pocketed up to $250,000 in winnings before being robbed by the authorities was caught.
Taken from LinkedIn Espoir Kouassi
Judge Tremblay had harsh words for Kouassi and all those scammers who embezzle $531 million from Canadians every year, according to data cited by the Anti-Fraud Center judge.
“They left the victims helpless, ashamed and in despair. But basically, the greatest betrayal is the betrayal of the trust of these victims, who harbored good feelings, which arouses suspicion among the entire population,” he lamented, recalling that “society has always had to believe in basic principles such as honesty, love and trust. “Friendliness”.
“[Ces fraudes] dehumanize not only the victims, but all people who harbor suspicions,” lamented Mario Tremblay, who agreed with prosecutors’ proposal for sentencing.
Crown prosecutor Me Juan Manzano had proposed a sentence of four to five years, while defense Me Gabriel Michaud-Brière had suggested a two-year sentence.
A balm for the victims
For Sylvain Duguay, who witnessed his mother fall victim to the network, Tuesday’s verdict is balm after years of suffering and, above all, a clear message from the court to the scammers.
Joel Lemay / QMI Agency
“We had to send a message because the consequences matter. “My mother will never be the same again,” admits the man who protests organized networks targeting vulnerable people.
“My mother has cognitive problems with mild dementia. Even today he was a lover with whom she had a lot of problems,” says the man, who has just received a disability notice to protect his mother despite everything she has been through.
“Even after that, even after she lost everything, I couldn’t protect my mother,” adds the one who wants to send a message to the families. “When in doubt, contact the authorities.”
The Sogli Espoir Kouassi dossier
- 37-year-old man from Ivory Coast
- He admitted his guilt to a love scam scheme linked to his country of origin
- The defendant acted as a transmission belt to route the money received from the victims
- 39 victims aged 39 to 85 were swindled out of $2.4 million. The amounts stolen range from $2,000 to $170,000
- He was also jailed for 90 days for driving during the driving ban and another 90 days for violating the conditions.
- Two minor co-defendants also pleaded guilty. Kouassi’s wife received a parole, while Yapo Landry N’Cho received six months in prison