'I trusted the system to handle it': N.L. justice department mum on cases tossed due to delays
CBC
Colby Leamon had lost a close family member, and was looking for a dog to provide emotional support.
At that time, back in 2021, he was a student living alone and wanted companionship.
After finding what seemed like a legitimate offer online, Leamon shelled out a "few thousand" dollars — but never did receive the dog.
"The seller disappeared and I was left with nothing," Leamon said in a recent interview with CBC News.
Leamon wasn't the only one who believed he was scammed.
The RCMP investigated, and in mid-2022 filed fraud charges against a man and woman living in eastern Newfoundland. There were 23 alleged victims named in court documents.
"We reported to authorities looking for justice, but unfortunately that never did happen," Leamon said.
Fast forward 2½ years, to early January of this year.
Lawyers for the two accused had filed a so-called Jordan application, contending that it had taken too long for the case to get to trial.
The prosecutor, who appeared at provincial court in St. John's on Jan. 7, called no evidence and those 23 fraud charges were all withdrawn.
Back in western Newfoundland, Leamon says he didn't know any of that had happened until he was contacted by CBC News nearly two months later.
"It's frustrating, disappointing, to say the least," he said.
"I am shocked. Losing the money was bad enough, but not even being told that the case was dropped makes it feel like it didn't matter. I trusted the system to handle it and I wasn't even given the courtesy of an update. It just makes me wonder how many other victims are left in the dark like this?"
If the provincial Department of Justice has the answer, it is not sharing it publicly.
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