There was some relief for the 158 victims of Earl Jones last January when he pleaded guilty to two counts of defrauding investors of more than $50 million dollars for which he was sentenced to 11 years in jail. Ginny Nelles, whose family lost $1 million dollars by investing with Jones says, "I think it's a landmark, it feels like we've reached a great milestone. We've been fighting for a year and I think everyone is still resolved and determined to seek justice."
Well that justice has come just over one year later as a Quebec judge granted victims the right to go ahead with a class-action lawsuit against the Royal Bank of Canada. Robert Mongeon, a Montreal Superior Court Judge, gave former Ponzi schemer, Earl Jones' clients' permission to go ahead with the $40 million lawsuit, claiming that the Montreal area Royal Bank of Canada knew of inconsistencies with Jones' account but did not investigate or do anything to prevent it.
The victims, who have formed the Earl Jones Victims Organizing Committee, were pleased with the verdict, as they have been fighting on behalf of all 158 victims, many of them seniors. Kevin Curran, whose mother was bilked out of her savings, says, "Whatever time these things typically take, because of the particular age and circumstances around this fraud, the judge wants to move it along as quickly as possible."
The suit made by the victims includes claims of abused privileges at the Royal Bank, resulting in questionable transactions being ignored. They also claim that their investment money was deposited directly into Jones' personal bank account and not 'in-trust' as they were led to believe.
Although none of these allegations have yet to be proven in court, the Royal Bank of Canada claims that it too, was victimized by Jones' ponzi scheme when he used bank logos and letterhead to make his 'investments' look legitimate. RBC spokesman Claude Lussier said, "We're confident in our position and when the case comes to court, we'll present a defence that's solid."
Like many of the other ponzi schemes that have come to light over the recent years, they usually cost unsuspecting people their life savings, and the chances of recovering the money is grim. Sadly, this particular ponzi scheme cost six of the victims their homes with an additional 11 of them relying on mortgage relief, which runs out in August. This could easily result in them being evicted.
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