18 month prison sentence | A fraudulent accountant took $100,000 from a sick senior

Almost 85 years old, Jacques Racette is still working to “make ends meet”. He had no choice: while he was fighting cancer, his accountant stole the money he had saved for his retirement. This repeat fraudster headed to prison on Thursday, to the great satisfaction of several alleged victims.

“It freed me quite a bit. She’s been bothering people for quite a long time. Today, she will pay for it,” said the victim, Jacques Racette, after the hearing.

Accountant Nathalie Ratthé had no reaction when judge Claude Leblond sentenced her to 18 months in prison. The 60-year-old crook hoped to get away with home confinement, like last year, when a judge sentenced her to 20 months at home for another fraud^⁠1.

This is his sixth criminal conviction in 40 years.

“They are tears of joy. Finally ! Our voice is being heard. I’m happy that justice has been done! », rejoiced Julie Delisle, moved. “It’s a certain liberation that she reaps what she sows,” added Jessica Hannan, at her side.

The two women exulted at the Montreal courthouse. Even if they have no connection with Mr. Racette’s case, they wanted to attend the judgment. Both claim to have been defrauded by Nathalie Ratthé. They confided their misfortune to the Canadian radio program The invoice, last year.

Jessica Hannan accuses Nathalie Ratthé of having taken at least $450,000 from her for 7 years, while she was her company’s accountant. She has filed a police report and is still hoping charges will be laid.

This scam led Jessica Hannan to bankruptcy and depression, she explains.

She blames… organized crime

In the case that landed her in prison, Nathalie Ratthé extracted $101,000 from her client Jacques Racette, who had absolute confidence in her. Between 2015 and 2017, the fraudster made her sign around twenty checks by making her believe that they were intended for revenue agencies.

However, she pocketed everything.

At that time, Jacques Racette was weakened by chemotherapy treatments and had just sold his business. Since then, his retirement has been ruined, and he still owes the taxman $50,000. He still works occasionally to support himself. He has the hope of one day getting his money, since the accountant will have to repay him if she wants to avoid two additional years in prison.

To justify her recent frauds, Nathalie Ratthé posed as a victim of organized crime. Criminals allegedly threatened her when she was unable to repay a $300,000 loan (received in cash) to “pay her lawyers” in 2013. However, it is not clear why she needed the money .

It is in this context that she laundered money for organized crime. She explains having produced “false paychecks” and “employment certificates” to criminals. To prove her statement, she submitted a filmed statement made as a witness to the Sûreté du Québec in 2015.

“Grey areas”, says the judge

The Crown prosecutor, Mr.^e Denis Trottier, questioned this thesis involving organized crime, since the bank account of the accused’s company shows that the money was used to pay for personal things. Judge Leblond was not convinced by Nathalie Ratthé, since too many “gray areas” remain.

Judge Leblond chose to impose a firm prison sentence given the numerous aggravating factors: high moral culpability of the accused, lack of reimbursement and numerous criminal records.

The judge, however, deviated from the Crown’s suggested sentence (30 to 36 months), due to a positive expert report. According to a criminologist, Nathalie Ratthé shows an “authentic” desire for rehabilitation and presents a low risk of recidivism. She also received several letters of recommendation. The Laval Women’s Center was also enthusiastic to welcome her for community work.

Nathalie Ratthé still runs the accounting firm SO S Entrepreneurs, whose website is very professional. Note that she is not a chartered professional accountant (CPA). She has also been convicted on several occasions for illegally practicing public accounting.

1. Read the article “Fraudulent accountant sentenced to 20 months in home prison”