Former North Wiltshire CAO Receives 90-Day Sentence for Fraud

A former chief administrative officer of North Wiltshire, Tammy Louise White, has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for defrauding the rural municipality. White, aged 44, was convicted for cashing a cheque made out to herself for $4,000 while serving as CAO in December 2024. This case highlights significant issues of trust and accountability within local government.

Court proceedings revealed that White was charged with fraud last year and entered a guilty plea in the fall. Following her plea, the case was postponed to allow probation services to prepare an updated pre-sentence report. She returned to court for her sentencing on Wednesday morning.

Crown attorney Samson Brasseur emphasized White’s attempts to minimize her moral responsibility, stating that she described the incident to probation services as a “misunderstanding.” Chris van Ouwerkerk, her legal aid lawyer, noted that White expressed feelings of shame and disbelief regarding her situation.

Municipality Reimbursed, but No Restitution Demanded

During the proceedings, it was confirmed that the municipality had been reimbursed by its bank for the fraudulent cheque. Interestingly, no restitution request was made in court, meaning White has not been formally asked to repay the money. However, she is required to pay a $500 victim fine surcharge.

Commenting on the situation, Judge Jeff Lantz raised concerns about how someone with White’s background could be placed in a position of trust. He noted, “One wonders how she can get in a position of trust like this with the record she would have had at the time.” At the time she served as CAO, White was also fulfilling an 18-month sentence in the community for drug trafficking.

Custody Arrangements and Community Impact

White’s attorney requested that she be allowed to serve her sentence in the community, similar to her previous drug sentence. Nevertheless, Judge Lantz denied this request, stating, “She broke the trust of a community.” He did allow her to serve her 90-day sentence on weekends, enabling her to care for her children during the week.

The case has drawn attention to issues of governance and integrity within local administration. As the Rural Municipality of North Wiltshire did not respond to inquiries from CBC News, the broader implications for local governance remain to be seen.