An ex-notary used the casino to hide the stolen money

Photo taken from Facebook
Amateur poker in particular, Jean-Manuel Estrela was using the casino to divert the funds entrusted by its clients.

Jean-François Cloutier

Thursday, 31 August, 2017 00:01

UPDATE
Thursday, 31 August, 2017 00:01

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A former notary discount Laval has used the casino to divert almost a million dollars entrusted to us by our clients ” for his personal benefit “.

Jean-Manuel Estrela has hijacked 861 $ 300 in his trust account after he was informed that he was the subject of an investigation of his professional order for its questionable practices in 2016, according to a judgment of the disciplinary Board of the Chamber of notaries of Quebec.

“He found himself at a certain time, with more than $ 600,000 in cash that he hides him home in his dirty laundry basket, his sweeper and the attic of his house “, the report documents consulted by The Newspaper.

Debts and travel

It has been written off in the past year we have established ” a factory for production of title deeds at a discount “, with 6000 acts in three years. He committed a series of breaches of conduct, including signing acts outside of his presence and failure to ensure the release of a mortgage deed. He has been disbarred for life for a second time of its order to the end of June in respect of the misappropriation of funds.

“The ultimate goal of mr. Estrela is not simply to play the money at the casino ; he used the opportunity to remove it thus amounts to obtain cash,” says the judgment.

The money was used for travel and to pay personal debts. The notary had, in fact, money problems on the result of an “expensive wedding” and the purchase of a luxurious house of more than $ 800,000, according to the judgment. He is now divorced.

According to the documents, it is immediately after having been informed that he was under investigation for his practices that he started to divert the funds.

False signature

Between 12 and 16 February 2016, the ex-notary has made six wire transfers from his trust account to his credit card for a total amount of 244 500 $. The money was then converted into casino chips. At the casino, between 13 and 17 February 2016, he withdrew 286 340 $.

“He says that when he arrived at the casino, he plays a little and he left with the cash that he was able to remove it “, according to the documents.

The former notary had also approached a private lender to obtain the funds.

For loan, he represented falsely that a couple outside the country wished to obtain a loan of $ 100,000 in exchange for a mortgage on their residence in Laval.

He prepared a false power of attorney, saying that he was acting on their behalf. He prepared a false loan contract and mortgage. It turns out that the “borrowers” were the parents-in-law of the ex-notary.

They have said that they were unaware of the scheme of their son-in-law.

“The evidence shows that not only it is not their signature, but in addition, they do not sign ever in Arabic “, mention the documents.

Invoice salt

The spokesperson of the Chamber of notaries, Bolivar Nakhasenh, did not want to say how much of the money diverted by the notary Estrela was able to be recovered. She indicated that the vast majority of customers cheated would be compensated.

The Chamber shall indemnify up to a maximum of $ 100,000 to the victims of notaries dishonest.

“It is the whole of the notaries of Quebec, which is as well greatly affected by the actions of Mr. Estrela as they are the ones who, indirectly, compensate customers “, says the judgment of June.

We have tried, without success, to contact the ex-notary Estrela.

Notaries at discount denounced

The president of the Union des notaires du Québec, Roberto Aspri, was assigned the embezzlement of Jean-Manuel Estrela to the price war being waged by the notaries of the province.

“Some, unfortunately, may be forced to lower to a level where the work might leave to be desired,” he said.

According to the president, the rates charged by some notaries of the push-to-turn corners. “A folder it takes between 20 and 22 hours of work. It can’t reasonably be paid with what is paid now, ” he said.

Dishonest

“Since the abolition of the tariff in 1991, the conditions deteriorate, he added. Unfortunately, we are rushed from one part to another, it is at the mercy of the market. “

According to Me Aspri, the fact that the Room compensation to victims of notaries dishonest has a perverse effect, because people shop often a notary on the basis of price, not quality. They know that in the event of a problem, the Chamber of notaries is going to compensate them.

“It makes us tired. We do not see why we should be responsible for these differences “, he said.