Final Fort William First Nation fraud sentencing scheduled for February

The final person convicted in a major welfare fraud case on the Fort William First Nation will learn her fate in the new year.

Patricia Charlie pleaded guilty for her part in the $1.2 million fraud scheme. The Crown says Charlie had an active role in producing more than $200,000 of fraudulent welfare cheques, and kept about 51,000 for herself.

The Crown is asking for up to two-and-a-half years in prison, while the defence has requested a conditional sentence.

The judge will make a decision on Feb. 16. Charlie was one of a dozen people arrested in 2006.

Seven of those accused have already been sentenced, while four had the charges against them dropped.