A Prince Edward County resident has pleaded guilty to multiple frauds as a former employee of two businesses, one based
in Belleville and the other in Prince Edward County.
In total, the amount stolen was between $678,000 and $712,000.
Jennifer Simao, 44 at the time of her arrest by Belleville police in 2023, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of fraud over $5,000 and another of theft over $5,000.
Simao made numerous fraudulent credit card transactions totalling over $650,000 between 2018 and 2022 while employed as a marketing manager for Impacto Protective Products in Belleville.
The transactions involved false marketing campaigns using Shopify and Amazon accounts. Court also heard that items ordered through Amazon and paid for using company credit cards had actually been shipped to her home address.
And in 2023 she misdirected funds totalling over $5,300 into a personal account while working as Communications and Media Director for Station Road Arts Collective in The County. Court heard that certain clients hadn’t been receiving payments from Station Road.
Simao’s defence will be requesting a conditional sentence, citing Simao’s health issues.
A conditional sentence means she would avoid jail time.
The Crown will ask for a penitentiary sentence.
A pre-sentence report has been ordered and Simao will next appear for a judicial pre-trial on October 7 at which time a sentencing date is expected to be set.
