A former housing advocate with a history of fraud crimes has abandoned her request for a lawyer on the government dime.

Fifty-year-old Michelle Voisey, who also went by Michelle Gushue, is the former executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society which supports women, girls, and gender-diverse people in the justice system.

But she herself has been convicted of dozens of financial crimes, the latest linked to $8,000 worth of federal CERB payments she applied for under her niece’s name.

Voisey was charged four years ago and pleaded guilty last March. But sentencing was delayed again and again while she applied for Legal Aid, which was denied, followed by a special request for a court-appointed-and-paid lawyer.

In Supreme Court this morning Voisey withdrew that application, moving the case closer to resolution.

A closed hearing is now set for next week, during which a new sentencing date is expected to be set.

In 2015, Voisey was sentenced to three years in prison for defrauding four businesses and one person.

Eight years later, in 2023, while using the surname Gushue, she took part in the tent city protest on Confederation Hill, seeking donations of gift cards and cash on social media.