A 91原创 Island woman effortlessly tricked B.C.鈥檚 government into handing her $357,000 for nothing in an online billing scheme involving several non-existent childcare clubs over two years.
And although an unidentified government clerk was later investigated in the 91原创 Island 鈥淎fter School Fun鈥� scheme, the RCMP laid charges against only the contractor.
Licensed child-care contractor Victoria Ann Rutenberg, 39, was found guilty on three fraud counts.
Crown prosecutor Bruce Morrison told court last year that Rutenberg鈥檚 scam 鈥� systematically submitting expense claims to the Ministry of Children and Family Development聽聽 鈥� wasn鈥檛 difficult.
Court heard that between July 2009 and June 2011, Rutenberg tapped a 鈥渢op-up鈥� fund for licensed child-care providers. She received cash to run two Comox Valley After School Fun programs that no longer existed, and grossly over-billed for non-existent children in a third program.
In her 鈥渞eal鈥� child-care at a Courtenay school, court heard that Rutenberg
usually minded no more than 10 kids, but consistently billed beyond the maximum of 40.
Last week, a ministry spokesman said it will seek a full restitution order for defrauded funds after Rutenberg has been sentenced, and that audits are being conducted on child-care providers to combat fraud.d
