Skip to content

Former Alta. investment counsellor handed 13 years for fraud

LETHBRIDGE — A former southern Alberta investment counsellor who defrauded dozens of people of more than $2 million has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

LETHBRIDGE — A former southern Alberta investment counsellor who defrauded dozens of people of more than $2 million has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Jerry Russell Johnson was found guilty at the conclusion of a trial last month.

Court heard the 59-year-old man victimized nearly 50 people.

Some of them say they’ve had stress-related health problems as a result of losing money.

Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Patrick Sullivan says he believes the sentence — one year shy of the maximum for such an offence — will deter others.

Crown prosecutor Photini Papadatou says a restitution order included in the sentence allows Johnson’s victims to go after any money he has, once he’s released from prison.