A Quebec couple was nabbed with numerous pieces of identification in other people's names after an unsuccessful attempt to withdraw money from a Wawa bank in December.
It marked the second time in two days that the pair's identity theft scheme failed in small communities north of Sault Ste. Marie, a judge heard Tuesday.
The first occurred on Dec. 12 at the RBC branch in Chapleau.
Stephan Galarneau, 48, of Laval, pleaded guilty to three charges stemming from the Dec. 13 incident in Wawa.
He was convicted of fraudulently using another man's identification to obtain money, using a forged Quebec driver's licence and breach of probation.
His probation prohibited him from possessing any identification card, driver's licence or social insurance number not in his name.
Cynthia Racine, 41, of Lac-Superieur, pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of identification to withdraw money.
A French-English interpreter assisted the court throughout the proceedings.
When the cops caught the couple, they searched them and found about 45 pieces of false identification, a Superior East OPP press release revealed at the time.
Galarneau was charged with 25 counts of identity theft (obtain or possess another person's identity information), five counts of failing to comply with a probation order and a single count of possession of a forged document.
Racine was charged with 22 counts of identity theft, and a single count of having a forged document.
The court heard Ontario Provincial Police in Chapleau were contacted about a man and woman who were attempting to make a fraudulent transaction at the local RBC branch.
Galarneau told the teller he had lost his debit card and needed a replacement to withdraw $5,000 from his account.
He was using a card belonging to someone else that he had obtained fraudulently in Timmins, assistant Crown attorney Adrianna Mucciarelli said.
The transaction couldn't be completed and the bank contacted the OPP about his suspicious actions.
When officers arrived, the pair had fled, but their identity was confirmed on video surveillance cameras, the prosecutor told Ontario Court Justice Heather Mendes.
At 11 a.m. the following day, OPP officers in Wawa were called to the town's RBC branch about a man attempting to use false Identification there.
Galarneau had a driver's licence in another man's name and was trying to withdraw money.
He was arrested, and police learned there had been a woman with him who had tried to make a withdrawal using a card in another female's name.
Later that day, a resident located a small black bag with a fraudulent photo card that had Racine's picture on it.
The bag also contained Quebec health cards and licences in different names, as well as similar pieces of Ontario identification.
The Crown and defence jointly recommended a two-year prison term for Galarneau, in addition to the 90 days he spent in the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre since his arrest.
The accused has a lengthy and related criminal record that started in 1996 with a conviction for theft over $5,000 and has been "quite consistent" since then, Mucciarelli said.
"He has spent a significant amount of time in custody, including penitentiary sentences for similar offences."
Galarneau's lawyer said since his client's arrest he has developed serious health issues and a prison sentence will attend to his health as well as offer programs.
"I believe I'll be able to do some good while in the penitentiary," Galarneau told the judge through the interpreter.
When she imposed the sentence, Mendes called his "very lengthy criminal record replete with similar offences he was convicted of today" aggravating.
These offences involved numerous victims and invasion of their privacy, she said.
His guilty pleas indicate remorse, and Galarneau has taken responsibility for his actions, and pleaded guilty at an early stage, saving court time and resources. He also will be on probation for 24 months with conditions that include a ban that prohibits him from going to any RBC in Ontario.
As well, he is prohibited from possessing any debit, credit or banks cards and identification not lawfully issued in his name.
Racine, who has a "not very lengthy criminal record," received a suspended sentence. She also was placed on probation for two years with the same conditions.
Mendes ordered forfeiture of all the items seized by the police.
At the request of the Crown, the remaining offences stemming from the incidents were withdrawn.