Certified general accountant Josephine Coffey, who practiced on the Coast for nearly 30 years, is to appear in Vancouver provincial court today (Oct. 13) to face nine criminal charges including three counts of breach of trust, two counts of forgery and four counts of theft over $5,000.
The Vancouver Police Department launched a fraud investigation against Coffey in September 2004 after several of her clients on the Coast and in Vancouver brought forward complaints to the police department.
Those complaints centred on Coffey's involvement with will preparation. It was alleged she had stolen thousands of dollars from deceased relatives through their wills.
Local Ruby Farr told Coast Reporter at the time the story broke in 2004 that Coffey named herself beneficiary in her brother-in-law's will, entitling Coffey to approximately $160,000 in the estate.
Former Coast resident Martina Vanderhorn alleged she lost over $250,000 in dealings with Coffey.
She said her sister-in-law was dying of cancer and hired Coffey to prepare her will. She had recently sold her clothing company and wanted most of her money to go to charities like the War Amps and the Salvation Army. However, the will stipulated the money could go only to charities that would use 15 per cent of every dollar for costs. "Well that's impossible because most charities use at least 40 per cent of every dollar on costs," said Vanderhorn back in 2004.
Coffey was named the beneficiary for the money if it could not be used by a suitable charity.
"The will was bound to fail. It's convoluted but unbreakable in the courts," Vanderhorn said, noting she had been to court several times to fight that the money be used as her sister-in-law wished.
On Aug. 30, 2006 the Vancouver Police Department concluded their investigation of Coffey and issued a release that said Crown Counsel had approved nine charges in the case against Coffey, including three counts of breach of trust, two counts of forgery and four counts of theft over $5,000.
Coffey is to appear for an arraignment hearing on the charges in Vancouver today, Oct. 13, where she is expected to enter a plea either in person or through her counsel.
"On this day a date will be set for either a trial or, if she pleads guilty, for a sentencing hearing," said Leslie Stevens of the Vancouver Police Department Financial Crime Squad.
