Former employee pleads guilty to defrauding United Way of $300,000

CHATHAM – A former United Way of Chatham-Kent employee has pleaded guilty to fraud after the local nonprofit agency discovered she had been defrauded of more than $300,000.

Veronica Whittal, 49, of Tilbury, pleaded guilty Friday in a Chatham court.

An agreed statement of facts presented by Assistant Crown Attorney Kate Bailey noted that on October 2, 2023, the acting executive director of the local United Way turned over documents from an independent audit that found the agency had been defrauded via electronic transfers between October 8, 2023, 2021 and October 20, 2022.

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Whittal allegedly created email addresses similar to those of vendors associated with United Way and transferred false electronic payments totaling $302,341.37 that were deposited into his own bank account, the court heard.

Chatham-Kent police gained access to Whittal’s bank records by court order and United Way confirmed his bank account, the Crown said, adding that police agreed the accused took the money from the agency .

Whittal’s attorney, Ken Marley, requested that his client remain out of custody until a pre-sentence report is completed. The Crown and defense “are considering jointly recommending a suspended sentence,” he added.

Whittal “admits his guilt and waives his right to a trial,” Marley said, adding that she understands that even with a joint submission, the sentencing decision is up to the judge.

Before a pre-sentence report was ordered, Marley submitted a number of letters to the court, including one from the Canadian Mental Health Association confirming his client’s participation in counseling sessions.

Other letters confirmed that Whittal had completed a residential gambling addiction program, engaged in an aftercare program at a Windsor hospital, and participated in mental health and substance abuse counseling at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance.

Whittal is expected to return to court Jan. 15 for a sentencing hearing.

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