Pembroke – A former longtime employee of the Madawaska Valley Association for Community Living (MVACL) pled guilty to the charge of theft from 13 residents in her care last week in the Ontario Court of Justice.

Amanda Foy, 43, a resident of Killaloe, was employed as Direct Support Manager at MVACL from 2010 until her dismissal in 2022.

In November 2022, Ms. Foy was terminated with cause after her manager learned of her stealing money from her vulnerable sector clients. On November 22, 2022, MVACL Manager Monica Prymack contacted Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) at Killaloe and advised them of the fraud and theft of money. She told police a series of cheques were made out to Ms. Foy from her client’s bank accounts.

Before her arrest, she had no criminal record and no contact with any police force in relation to any crimes.

When Ms. Prymack confronted Ms. Foy, she confessed to stealing money from her clients. As a result of the confession, Ms. Prymack directed Leslie Reis, the MVACL accountant, to conduct an internal audit to determine the extent of Ms. Foy’s thefts. She completed the review and her report documented that 13 clients under Ms. Foy’s care were defrauded $129,335.82 between 2014 and 2022. Three of the 13 clients are now deceased.

The OPP conducted a search of Ms. Foy’s financial situation and discovered a series of cash deposits into her BMO bank account correlated with withdrawals from her client’s respective bank accounts.

James Bocking, Renfrew County Crown Attorney, submitted an exhibit that contained the number of times the fraudulent withdrawals were made and the amounts of each transaction that eventually found their way into Ms. Foy’s BMO personal account. He confirmed the total was $129,335.82

Justice Jeffery Richardson presided over the Ontario Court of Justice hearing on July 9. Following Mr. Bocking’s presentation of the facts and the admission of evidenceimplicating Ms. Foy,Justice Richardsonruled that Ms. Foy was guilty of theft under $5,000.

He also requested an adjournment for a period of eight weeks for some form of restitution to be made towards the remaining clients who were defrauded by Ms. Foy.

“The reason we are requesting an adjournment, Your Honour, is so that the intention is to see that these people are made whole,” Mr. Bocking told Justice Richardson. “It is my understanding that efforts will be made in that fashion and that is why we are requesting an adjournment of this proceeding for this purpose.”

Justice Richardson scheduled September 19 for Ms. Foy to return to court to be spoken to and to provide the court with an update about any financial restitution that has been made to date. He also imposed a non-contact order for the remaining MVACL clients who were defrauded by Ms. Foy

Justice Richardson also informed Ms. Foy she will be required to help complete a Pre-Sentence Report.

“There will be a Pre-Sentencing Report ordered for your next appearance and it will be prepared by a probation officer,” he told her directly. “The probation officer will contact you and please be completely honest and above board when the probation officer contacts you. That will ensure that I can sentence you properly.”