Executive Summary
- Paula Angeline Creamer pleaded guilty to fraud over $5,000 in Miramichi provincial court.
- The fraud targeted the Northumberland County Forest Products Marketing Board between 2016 and 2022.
- Prosecutors intend to withdraw a separate theft charge prior to sentencing.
- Sentencing has been scheduled for February 10.
A 44-year-old woman from Miramichi, New Brunswick, has admitted to defrauding the Northumberland County Forest Products Marketing Board of funds exceeding $5,000 over a period spanning nearly seven years. Paula Angeline Creamer pleaded guilty in Miramichi provincial court on Monday to one count of fraud involving property, money, or services.
According to court records, the fraudulent activities took place between January 1, 2016, and November 4, 2022. The organization victimized by the scheme is also known locally as the Northumberland Woodlot Owners Association. During the hearing, Crown prosecutor Andrew Murphy indicated to the court that a secondary charge of theft over $5,000 is expected to be withdrawn prior to the sentencing phase.
Details regarding the specific methods used to defraud the board were not immediately presented in court. Prosecutor Murphy noted that the statement of facts was deferred due to a heavy case docket. The presiding judge adjourned the proceedings until the morning of February 10, when Creamer is scheduled to be sentenced.
Procedural Next Steps
With the entry of a guilty plea, the judicial focus now shifts to the sentencing phase, where the court will evaluate the severity of the financial loss and the breach of trust against the employer. The withdrawal of the concurrent theft charge suggests a plea agreement often utilized to streamline judicial resources in complex financial cases. It is important to note that regarding any outstanding or withdrawn counts, all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
