Former Manager of Summerland KVR Society Sentenced for $74K Fraud

The former business manager of the Summerland Kettle Valley Steam Railway (KVSR), Julia Beatrice Belmonte, has been sentenced to 18 months of house arrest for defrauding the non-profit society of $74,171.64. Belmonte pleaded guilty to committing fraud over $5,000 in November 2024, with her sentencing taking place on August 25, 2024, at the Penticton Provincial Court.

During her time as the KVSR’s business manager, Belmonte engaged in a series of fraudulent activities. She made 84 personal purchases on Amazon using the society’s account, created a fake vendor email account to facilitate transfers, and improperly managed payroll to increase her salary and obtain extra holiday pay. Additionally, she used the society’s credit card to buy a plane ticket for her then-boyfriend, further deepening the financial misappropriation.

The fraud was uncovered after Belmonte failed to provide crucial financial documents to the society’s external bookkeeper, including credit card statements for a year and a half. Following these delays, the society appointed another former manager to assist, leading to the discovery of the fraud. This prompted Belmonte to cease her attendance at work. Law enforcement later executed a search warrant at her home in West Kelowna, seizing many of the purchased items. Notably, she also returned a stand-up paddleboard to the society that she had bought with the funds.

The prosecution highlighted the absence of a compelling motive for Belmonte’s actions. The Crown prosecutor stated, “The motivation was essentially greed… There’s no indication of any addiction issues.” This lack of justification was considered an aggravating factor during sentencing.

Initially, the Crown sought a three-year probation period. However, the presiding judge expressed concerns about the proposed length, leading to a revised joint submission of a two-year conditional sentence to be served in the community, alongside a 20-month probation period. The first 18 months of this sentence will be spent under house arrest, with additional restrictions preventing Belmonte from seeking employment or volunteer opportunities that would grant her financial authority.

Belmonte has until 2032 to repay the $74,000 to the Summerland Kettle Valley Steam Railway, reflecting the seriousness of her actions and the consequences of her fraudulent behavior.