A disabled man from Woodstock, Ontario, has admitted in a Windsor courtroom to defrauding a local bank branch of more than $101,000, but his defence lawyer argues his client is the 'real victim' of a criminal mastermind specifically targeting vulnerable individuals.
Fraud Scheme Targets Vulnerable Population
The case, heard before Ontario Court Justice Scott Pratt on December 17, 2025, involves a 44-year-old man with a neuro-muscular disease that affects his speech and mobility. According to undisputed facts presented in court, the man was recruited online by an anonymous handler who promised easy money.
He was instructed to open a business bank account, deposit an altered cheque, and then make withdrawals using fraudulent cheques. The lawyer, Brandon Diesbourg, told the court his client was even coached to use his disability if bank tellers became suspicious, which proved successful.
Money Missing, Recruiter at Large
The fraud took place at a Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) branch in Tecumseh in early 2024. A total of $101,140.34 was withdrawn and remains missing and unaccounted for. Despite pleading guilty to fraud over $5,000, money laundering, and making false statements, Diesbourg told the court his client 'ended up not receiving a dollar.'
All the stolen funds, the lawyer asserted, were pocketed by the still-unidentified recruiter. The man, who was falling behind on bills and sought ways to make money from home, was lured via an encrypted app.
A Warning for the Community
Brandon Diesbourg issued a stark warning, stating this is not an isolated incident. 'Someone in our community is targeting and recruiting members of the disabled community,' he told the court and later confirmed to the Windsor Star.
He revealed he has another local client facing the same fraud charge under remarkably similar circumstances. 'I'm seeing this more and more,' Diesbourg said. 'He is guilty of fraud, but he's the victim of a much bigger bank fraud scheme that is targeting the disabled.'
The case highlights a disturbing trend where criminals exploit the vulnerabilities and financial desperation within the disabled community, leaving the recruited individuals to face legal consequences while the orchestrators vanish with the proceeds.
