Fraudster Walter Garrick
By michelle-lee :Former B.C. Lions and Toronto Argos quarterback Damon Allen was a victim. Michael “Pinball” Clemons of the Toronto Argos was a victim and so was actor Ken Vadas and Sick Kids Hospital specialist Dr. Rahim Valani. The perpetrator, Oakville resident Walter Garrick defrauded them all. Over a period of three years Garrick posed as a wealthy investor to obtain $251,000 from his victims. On March 27th, Ontario Superior Court Justice David McCombs sentenced Garrick to 18 months in prison (reduced by 6 months for time spent in pretrial custody), two year’s probation and ordered restitution to three of four victims. Dr. Valani has already been compensated in a civil suit.
Garrick must return $172,000 and pay a fine of the same amount. Any restitution payments will reduce the fine by an equal amount.
Justice McCombs convicted Garrick on eight of ten counts of theft and fraud over $5,000. To avoid duplication the counts were then reduced to four. Garrick, 43, the father of two, had pleaded not guilty and represented himself at the judge only trial. He hired a lawyer after he was convicted to represent him at the sentencing hearing. Testimony revealed Garrick spent the money on clothes, cars and his extravagant lifestyle. The Crown had called for a sentence of up to two years followed by three years of probation.
