A man, identified as Cory Johnathon Smith, age 37, has been found guilty of embezzling nearly $45,000 from the Esterhazy Minor Hockey Association over a seven-month period. This incident occurred in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan. The Crown prosecutor, Fred Fisher, revealed that Smith’s actions drained the organization’s funds to the point where it almost had no money left, causing concerns that the hockey season in Esterhazy might have to be canceled. The association had to appeal to the town to temporarily suspend ice fees and engage in fundraising efforts to mitigate the financial impact.
The theft was uncovered when the association’s president, Glen Simon, started receiving inquiries from businesses regarding unpaid bills. Upon investigating, Simon discovered discrepancies in the financial reports provided by Smith during board meetings. Smith eventually confessed to the crime and repaid a portion of the stolen amount. He was removed from his position as treasurer following the incident.
As a non-profit organization, the Esterhazy Minor Hockey Association had policies requiring two signatures for cheques but allowed e-transfers to be executed by a single individual. Following the theft, the association revised its policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Smith’s actions were attributed to personal struggles, including a difficult separation from his spouse and mental health issues that impaired his ability to work. Smith’s defense lawyer, Raman Sharma, argued for a lenient sentence, stating that a criminal record would jeopardize Smith’s employment as a plumber and his financial stability.
Despite the defense’s plea for a conditional discharge, the judge imposed a 12-month conditional sentence order, which includes strict conditions such as a curfew, abstaining from substances, undergoing mental health programs, repaying the stolen amount, and issuing a formal apology to the Esterhazy Minor Hockey Association. Smith risks serving the remainder of the sentence in jail if he violates these conditions.