Alberta Man Sentenced to Jail and Fined Nearly $800K for COVID-19 Subsidy Fraud

Alberta Man Sentenced to Jail and Fined Nearly $800K for COVID-19 Subsidy Fraud and Tax Evasion

An Alberta man has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail and fined approximately $798,709.02 for defrauding the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and committing tax evasion through a fictitious drone flight company. Leslie Sand, from Brooks, Alberta, was the sole shareholder of Flyte Deck Corporation, which the CRA has confirmed was not a legitimate business and had no actual business income. Despite this, Sand applied for various COVID-19 relief programs such as the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, Hardest Hit Business Recovery Program, Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, and Canada Recovery Hiring Program. Sand's fraudulent actions included submitting false business records, lease agreements, payroll records, and bank documents, ultimately receiving $603,376.44 that was never reported as taxable income. The CRA emphasized the serious consequences of tax evasion, which can result in fines and imprisonment under Canadian law. The agency encourages individuals and businesses to report any suspicious tax-related activities.