Convicted of defrauding more than $400,000 with a fake company

A 67-year-old woman was sent behind bars in connection with a fraud scheme involving a fake construction company and ordered to pay more than $400,000 in restitution to the state last month.

According to what Revenu Quebec explained on Thursday, Esther Milian Linares set up a false company using nominees. The fraudster used this business to claim GST and QST credits from the governments.

“Investigation notably showed that M^me Linares and his company requested a total of $438,428.30 in refunds by making 48 fraudulent tax declarations in which a false turnover was declared,” Revenu Québec explained, noting that the fraud occurred between 2014 and 2018.

“Nominees and staff of the company have no real jobs. Moreover, the staff do not have the necessary skills to perform their so-called work in relation to the construction company,” the company said.

Revenue Quebec clarified that some nominees were, in fact, defrauded by Mr.^me Linars and lost money in this story.

For these reasons, the woman was ordered to pay a little more than $405,000 in restitution and serve 24 months of confinement.