A 45-year-old woman responsible for one of the largest fraud cases in history at a Quebec casino has escaped prison time. Among the mitigating factors, the judge said her life had been ruined by a “severe gambling addiction” that had cost her millions and plunged her into depression and even suicidal thoughts.
Posted at 7:27 p.m.
Ontario woman Yuan Wang went to the Casino du Lac-Leamy in Gatineau on August 8, 2018. Equipped with a forged bank check from the National Bank, she managed to withdraw $545,800 at the counter.
When a casino employee dialed the bank number listed on the forged document, one of the woman’s accomplices assured him on the phone that the draft was valid. She wasn’t.
The casino employee gave Yuan Wang the amount in cash and chips. Loto-Québec had just had half a million stolen.
A few days earlier, on August 3, 2018, another Ontarion used the exact same approach, still at Casino du Lac-Leamy. 48-year-old Daud Srosh also managed to withdraw $540,000 from the National Bank using a forged bank check.
This multi-million dollar fraud, which took place within a week, is perhaps the largest in the history of the state-owned gambling company.
Despite the seriousness of the fraud, which according to case law would have merited a prison sentence of six months to three years, Judge Rosemarie Millar of the Quebec court imposed a suspended sentence on the fraudster, who pleaded guilty.
Wang will also be sentenced to three years probation, during which she will not be allowed to visit any casino. She must pay back $125,000 to Loto-Québec.
“At first glance, it is true that this sentence appears lenient,” the judge wrote in her September 8 ruling, written in English. But it was fair, the judge said, when taking into account several mitigating factors, including the fraudster’s significant gambling addiction, her mental health problems and even her lack of a criminal record.
The defendant, who pleaded guilty, is said to have lost $3 million at various Canadian casinos over the years. She repeatedly mortgaged the house that her parents, Chinese immigrants, had given her for her wedding.
“Without the generosity of her parents, she would be on the streets,” the judge states. “This gambling addiction has ruined her life,” says the lawyer of the lady, mother of two children.
The judge notes that Daud Srosh, the other Casino du Lac-Leamy fraudster, was also sentenced to probation in an Ontario court for his frauds at casinos in Quebec and Ontario. The man, who also struggles with gambling addiction, is said to have lost $4 million over the years.
Loto-Québec: updated practices
Loto-Québec told the court in a letter what impact this $545,000 fraud had on the state-owned company. The reputation of the Société des casinos du Québec has been damaged by the numerous media articles about these historic frauds. Employees also lost their jobs following an internal investigation.
The judge took the letter from Casino du Lac-Leamy’s security manager with a grain of salt, if the ruling is to be believed.
The court takes note of the contents of the letter. However, it must not forget the nature of the gambling industry and the impact that betting offers have on those suffering from gambling addiction.
Excerpt from Judge Rosemarie Millar’s decision
However, the judge recognizes the extent of the fraud. She rejected the defense’s suggestion of a conditional discharge. Instead, she maintained a suspended sentence that was subject to several conditions.
Is this penalty severe enough to deter other scammers from targeting Quebec casinos?
“Loto-Québec respects the court’s decision,” the state-owned company said in an email to La Presse.
“In addition, we have control and verification practices, systems and procedures that are constantly reviewed and updated to minimize the risks associated with this type of fraud. »
Loto-Québec could not say Thursday how much it had recovered from the million lost at the Casino du Lac-Leamy in August 2018.