SASKATOON, Sask. – A Saskatchewan accountant who defrauded three cattle feeder organizations and two couples of more than $1 million is going to jail.
Bob Church, of Moose Jaw, Sask., pleaded guilty to five charges of fraud in a Regina courtroom last week. He was sentenced to two years less a day in a provincial jail.
Moose Jaw city police said the fraud involving the two couples began about 10 years ago, but the frauds involving the feeder associations were more recent.
Church was the secretary-treasurer of all three feeder associations, which are a type of loan co-operative. Through provincially backed feeder associations, members can buy cattle, usually at lower interest rates, and pay down only five percent of the cost.
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Fraud involving the Thunder Creek Cattle Co-operatives, near Moose Jaw, began in 1990. The feeder association was defrauded $243,336.09, of which $53,759.01 was repaid, leaving an outstanding balance of $189,577.06.
Frauds with the Craik Feeders Co-operative began in 1992 and involved $112,117.50. All except $535.78 was repaid.
Fraud of the Davidson Beef Producers began in 1993 and involved $99,463. Church repaid $26,960. The association is still out of pocket $72,503.
Moose Jaw city police said Church began taking from one account to repay another.
The total amount of money taken was more than $1.2 million and there is still $387,242.23 unpaid. With interest that amount would be closer to $700,000.
