The former owner of Exit Realty on The Rock has been sentenced to two years in jail at Supreme Court in St. John’s this afternoon.
In a stunning fall from grace, Anne Squires was handcuffed and led away from the courtroom following Justice Robert Stack’s decision.
The 61-year-old slowly shook her head as the judge detailed the “deceit and dishonesty” she had displayed in committing acts of fraud, forgery, theft, and breach of trust.
She was charged in 2016, nine months after Exit Realty on The Rock saw its licence revoked and the company went into receivership. Squires admitted to stealing from her own company as well as defrauding AccessEasyFunds—a payday loan firm that caters to the real estate industry.
(Anne Squires arrives at Supreme Court prior to sentencing, with lawyer Randy Piercey.)
Stack had given Squires a total of six years on all counts, but agreed some of the offenses affected the same people or companies and therefore could run concurrently. She received a total of two years less two days.
The judge said while Squires saved the court a lot of time and resources by pleading guilty, he noted she continued to shift blame onto the corporation that she bought her franchise from.
Squires must pay just over $500,000 in restitution to EasyAccessFunds and will remain on probation for two years. It’s not clear where Squires will serve her time.
