‘I am sorry’: Sask. contractor pleads guilty in $275,000 fraud case

Regina-based company Prairie Boy Windows and Doors pleaded guilty in Provincial Court Monday on fraud charges.

Sarah Turnbull was defrauded $18,000 for a deposit she made in March 2022.

“It’s just nice to see sometimes justice is served,” she told CTV News following court proceedings Monday. “Today is a good day.”

CTV News first met the Turnbull’s in July 2022 when they were still searching for the answer on whether or not they would get their brand new windows and doors.

Sarah says she chose Prairie Boy because of their good reputation and empathy for their daughter, who is in a wheelchair.

“And it turns out, he was just [de]frauding me the whole time,” she said. “He never ordered the windows. Never had any intention to.”

Regina Police Service (RPS) arrested the business owner, Joseph Alan Myers on Dec. 6, 2023 after more than 50 victims filed reports claiming they were defrauded by the business.

Beginning in June of 2022, RPS received a report of fraud involving a local contractor that was hired for home repairs in 2021.

According to police, the contractor provided an estimate of work and requested a deposit from the victim.

After the payment was received, the contractor failed to complete the repairs and did not return the deposit to the victim.

Between June 2022 and December 2023, Regina police received 53 reports concerning the same contractor.

The reported fraud between April of 2021 and June of 2022 cost the victims $277,787.75 in total.

Individual payments from victims to the business ranged from $700 to $18,000.

In the agreed statement of facts, it was explained that Myers used the funds from customer’s deposits to pay for day-to-day operations of his business – including salaries for employees.

About a dozen of the 53 victims appeared in court to hear Myers’ plea.

Thirty four of them prepared victim impact statement for the court. Two of them were read aloud.

“We feel violated,” Lori Baiton said. “[Myers] is 100 per cent all about scam.”

“It’s time for justice and closure,” she added.

Seven of the victims have already been reimbursed through their credit cards.

A total of 46 victims, representing $229,287.75 of the lost funds, have yet to be reimbursed.

During proceedings on Monday, it was learned that Myers has paid the full amount of the lost funds into a trust, where it will be distributed back to the remaining victims.

According to defence attorney, Matt Schmeling, Myers received funds from extended family to help pay reimbursement for the affected customers.

As part of the verdict, Myers is required to issue a written apology to each and every customer that experienced the fraud.

Although guilty, Myers will not serve jail time because of the restitution.

“I was shocked,” Turnbull said. “I had sort of begun to move on and let it go.”

“I can get my new windows and doors,” she added with a smile.

Instead, Myers will be on probation for two years with several court orders in place. Including a curfew and being banned from handling other people’s money.

Crown Prosecutor Jaco Erasmus said restitution played a “major role” in Myers escaping jail time for his crime.

“To be able to tell the victims they would be made financially whole – it doesn’t happen often,” he said. “When that happens, there’s some serious discussion to adjust the sentence but also ensure the victims get paid and justice is seen to be done.”

Judge Murray Hinds also called the restitution unprecedented.

“When I hear [the money] has been paid, that is a measure of mitigation I cannot ignore,” he said while preparing the sentence.

Judge Hinds also allowed Myers the chance to speak to his victims.

“I do feel awful,” he told them. “It just snowballed.”

“I apologize to everybody for what I put you through,” Myers added. “I am sorry.”

As a small business owner herself, Turnbull believes this sheds a dark light on local entrepreneurs who are trustworthy.

“It really impacts the small business community when someone does this,” she said. “I am glad to see locally, at this level, we are doing something about it and saying, ‘it’s not alright.”

“And in this case, there was a little bit of justice,” Turnbull added.

–With files from Hallee Mandryk and David Prisciak.