A Niagara Area man has admitted to defrauding two Ontario entrepreneurs of $52,000 after promising them thousands and thousands of {dollars} in financing in the event that they paid him a price.
Peter Corbière, 67, pleaded responsible to 2 counts of fraud over $5,000, in Goderich court docket earlier this 12 months and St. Catharines in 2024.
He is set to go to trial for a 3rd set of fraud prices in November.
CBC Hamilton first reported on Corbière’s conduct in 2018, when no less than 9 enterprise homeowners spoke out a few troubling sample. He’d provide them big loans in change for a lender’s price despatched on to his firms, however would by no means ship the financing and nonetheless hold the price.
That is what occurred to Don Nott, a former farmer, who in 2016 was beginning a brand new enterprise to show previous farm plastic into reusable plastic, assistant Crown lawyer Deanna Bronowicki instructed Goderich court docket on March 19.
Nott wanted to purchase a “very costly piece of equipment” and related with Corbière to get the financing, she stated. Nott gave him $38,000 as a part of their settlement in change for Corbière arranging a $1.4-million mortgage.
Corbière offered himself as a veteran enterprise financing professional. He’d labored for a authorities financial institution serving to small companies, and had spoken at enterprise occasions within the Niagara and Norfolk areas.
However Corbière “knew he did not have entry and was reckless in whether or not he’d have the ability to safe the $1.4 million,” stated Bronowicki.
Don Nott tells the CBC’s Stephanie Matteis concerning the $38,000 he gave Peter Corbière in change for a mortgage to develop his agriculture waste-recycling enterprise.
‘I remorse my actions,’ says Corbière
Corbière, who represented himself in court docket, stated he dedicated the fraud throughout “a time of large issue at residence” when his spouse was recognized with most cancers.
“I remorse my actions and inaction,” stated Corbière, who lives in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
As a part of his sentence of 12 months probation, Corbière was required to pay Nott again the $38,000 inside 90 days, or in mid-June, or would face a breach of probation cost and jail time, stated the Crown.
As of Thursday, he had but to take action, Nott instructed CBC Hamilton. Nott has reported it to the court docket, however stated he has “no grandeur of hope” of getting the cash again.
Neither the police nor the courthouse would affirm if Corbière has been charged.
In St. Catharines final September, Corbière pleaded responsible to defrauding Niagara Area entrepreneur Ty Shattuck of $14,000, which Corbière had already paid again.
In Shattuck’s sufferer affect assertion, he stated Corbière was a buddy he trusted to get $7 million in financing for his enterprise. The Crown learn elements of Shattuck’s assertion in court docket.
“I used to be not ready for the disgrace that comes with being conned or fooled,” stated Shattuck.
When the mortgage did not come by, Shattuck stated he misplaced not solely the $14,000 price he’d given Corbière, but additionally the acquisitions Shattuck had lined up and in the end his complete enterprise.
“I misplaced my manner and have become careless, unintentionally, making dangerous selections that affected others,” Corbière instructed the court docket. “I remorse my actions and sincerely apologize to Mr. Shattuck.”
Corbière was sentenced to 2 years probation. As a part of the situations, he is not allowed to do any enterprise associated to monetary lending companies.
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