Sentencing of St. John's serial fraudster and former housing advocate delayed again
CBC
The sentencing of St. John’s serial fraudster and former housing advocate Michelle Voisey met another delay Wednesday after she applied to get a court-appointed lawyer.
Voisey, also known as Michelle Gushue, was charged in October 2021 and pleaded guilty to one count of fraud over $5,000 in March 2025. Sentencing was originally scheduled for June but Justice Peter Browne agreed to a delay while Voisey applied for legal aid.
During Wednesday’s hearing in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, Browne agreed to another delay after Voisey submitted a Rowbotham application — a request for a court-appointed lawyer paid for by the provincial government — six days before the hearing.
Crown lawyer Kellie Cullihall objected to the sentencing delay, saying Voisey left the Rowbotham application incomplete and hadn’t even gone through the full legal aid application process despite saying she had.
“Ms. Voisey has time and time again done everything she can to put this off. And I would suggest to the court that false information has been provided in this application,” Cullihall said.
Though Browne agreed to delay the sentencing, he appeared frustrated by another set back.
“There is a history of late, 11th hour, I guess, pleas, applications and so on that could have been brought to the court’s attention, much, much sooner in the process,” he said to Voisey.
Browne told Voisey she has until the end of business hours on Dec. 5 to submit the application.
According to the agreed statement of facts, Voisey created an online Canada Revenue Agency account in her niece's name and applied for federal financial support meant for Canadians impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
When her GST payment didn’t arrive on time, Voisey's niece “immediately” suspected her aunt due to Voisey’s lengthy criminal record. Voisey’s niece later learned that $8,000 in CERB payments had been paid out in her name, even though she hadn't applied and didn't qualify for the benefit.
Voisey has dozens of prior convictions for fraud, theft and other crimes. In 2015, she was handed a three year prison sentence for defrauding four businesses and one person.
In 2023, Voisey, operating under the name Michelle Gushue, participated in the tent city protest on Confederation Hill. Voisey also solicited donations of gift cards, cell phones, cash and more through social media.
The current trial is unrelated to the 2023 tent city protest.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
A Calgary dentist who defrauded five insurance companies over a decade should spend up to three years in prison, the prosecution argued Friday.
B.C. Conservation Officer Service says it has called off its search for a bear responsible for an attack on a group of school children in Bella Coola, B.C. on Nov. 20.
The union president called it a rally for solidarity as Iqaluit Housing Authority employees gathered Friday while negotiations are ongoing between the Nunavut Employees Union and the employer.
The federal government is stoking Quebec separatism by walking back its climate commitments — including in its recent deal with Alberta — Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault says.
Four more Alberta MLAs are facing recall petitions organized by their constituents, including the first NDP representative to be caught in the province's ongoing wave of recall efforts.
Frank Gehry, the Canadian-born renegade architect behind some of the world's most recognizable buildings, has died at 96.
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.