Fraudster Michelle Gushue says being taken off meds 'institutional torture'
Michelle Gushue, an admitted fraudster who ripped off several companies, has been given the federal sentence she asked for, in order for her to remain on medication for bipolar disorder.
However, it's one year longer than what the defence had requested.
At a sentencing hearing at provincial court in St. John's Wednesday, Gushue said she had been taken off quetiapine (widely known under the brand name Seroquel) by prison psychiatrist David Craig, in the time leading up to most of the frauds she committed.
Gushue, 40, asked that she receive a sentence of two year plus a day in order to get a federal sentence, so that she can stay on her medication.
Her lawyer told the court his client has described being taken off medication by Craig as institutional torture.
However, Judge David Orr sided with the Crown and sentenced Gushue to three years in prison.
Orr took note of the psychiatric problems but said if a person continues to offend, that must be taken into consideration.
Gushue has a record for similar offences going back to 1998.
Autistic son suffering
Gushue had previously admitted to defrauding several companies out of tens of thousands of dollars, but entered another guilty plea to new charges involving O'Neill Plumbing Wednesday morning.
Gushue, who was the office manager and who wrote cheques to herself, took the local company for nearly $19,000, the court was told.
In a victim impact statement, the company indicated it is now hard to hire employees because the trust is gone.
"[I] know this has caused hardship," Gushue said. "I'm so sorry."
Gushue admitted she never disclosed her 40-page criminal record to employers because she said she was trying to get on with her life.
While on the stand, Gushue wept as she described the pain her crimes have caused her 15-year-old son, who is autistic and requires 24-hour care.
Since being in custody, Gushue said her son has become more aggressive and is losing some of the new verbal skills he had acquired.
The Crown prosecutor, who called Gushue a serial predator on small business, asked that she be sentenced to three years in prison, and that she also repay about $63,000 in restitution.
However, the defence said two years is more appropriate, as she has taken her own steps for rehabilitation. She has earned a plumbing certificate from Academy Canada and has had her medication adjusted.
In addition to the sentence, Orr ordered that Gushue repay the money owed to businesses she stole from.
