Former executive director of autism charity sentenced to jail, must return $27K

The former executive director of an Island autismcharity was sentenced to three months in jail and ordered to pay back nearly $27,000 that she stole from the organization.

Tracy Ann Smith,40, of Cornwall, P.E.I., pleaded guilty last December to fraud over $5,000 forforging cheques and stealing from the Stars for Life Foundation.

Chief Justice TraceyClementshanded down her sentence in P.E.I. Supreme Court in CharlottetownWednesday.

From January2017until the discovery ofthe fraud last spring, Smith wrote 22 chequesand used the charity's credit card to make cash advances and purchases which she kept for herself. The court heard Smithhad taken steps to pay back the money before the crime was discovered.

During her trialSmith told the court alcohol and gambling addictions drove her to stealfrom her employer.

Smith currently has three part-time jobs, including work as a bookkeeper. Her new employers are aware of her fraudconviction, court heard.

Intermittent sentence

She will serve her 90-day jail sentence on an intermittent basis until the sentence has been fully served, so that she can continue to earn money to pay backthe charity.

The judge ordered Smith to pay back $26,943 to the organization and to put the proceeds from the sale of a property she owns toward that restitution payment.

Smith will also be on probation for three years, during which she is notallowed to communicate with staff from the Stars for Life Foundation. Clements also ordered Smith toserve 100 hours of community service.

Smith has no prior criminal record.

More P.E.I. news