Disbarred Ottawa lawyer Joseph Langlois pleads guilty in $3M fraud. Victims reveal decade-long emotional and financial trauma at sentencing hearing.
Victims Speak Out at Sentencing Hearing
In a packed Ottawa courtroom on Tuesday, victims of disbarred lawyer Joseph Stéphane Langlois shared heartbreaking testimonies during his sentencing hearing. They described the emotional, financial, and psychological devastation caused by his years-long fraud scheme.
Fraud Uncovered After Millions Disappear
Langlois, once a practicing lawyer in the Ottawa area, pleaded guilty on June 16—the scheduled start of his trial—to four counts of fraud over $5,000 and eight counts related to forged documents. Charges were laid by Ontario Provincial Police in 2022 after more than $3 million went missing from two trust accounts linked to his law firm.
Betrayal Felt Closest to Home
His former wife, Sophie-Anne Charron, delivered a powerful victim impact statement in French. She told the court her signature had been forged repeatedly, leading her to unknowingly accumulate debts, declare bankruptcy, and lose her business. “This fraud wasn’t just an economic crime. It was a human betrayal,” she said.
Charron revealed that Langlois took $31,000 from their children’s education fund and abandoned the family while he travelled internationally. “The damage is not only measured in money, but also in tears, pain, and silence,” she added.
Pattern of Manipulation and Deception
Multiple victims recounted similar experiences of trust broken and futures compromised. Monica Brown and Shawn Kelly said the fraud left them with long-term debt and eroded their faith in the legal system. Another victim, Marcela Masci Nebenzahl, said Langlois entered her life after her divorce, manipulated her emotionally, and convinced her to walk away from property worth $75,000 before disappearing when she became pregnant.
Financial Losses Still Unrecovered
Jocelyn Levac and his former partner suffered the largest financial blow, losing over $730,000. He told the court he was forced to take on a second job and work over 100 hours a week to keep his farm. The physical and mental toll led to an accident that left him with 50 stitches in his hand. “For nine years, I kept my farm by surviving, not profiting,” he said outside the courthouse.
Levac noted that reimbursement through the Law Society and insurers has been partial at best, and that full recovery remains unlikely.
Judge to Decide Sentence This Fall
As part of the plea deal, both Crown and defence have recommended a six-year prison sentence. However, Justice Alexandre Kaufman is not obligated to accept the joint proposal. Final sentencing arguments are scheduled for October, at which point the judge will determine the appropriate sentence.
Langlois’s fraud spanned over a decade, and its effects continue to ripple through the lives of his victims—many of whom say their healing process has only just begun.
For continuous coverage and real-time updates, keep following Maple News Wire.
