A Prince George man will have two years to pay $15,080 in fines and victim surcharges for fraudulently claiming employment insurance benefits.
After being out of work for 13 and a half months, Robert Christopher Geisler, 54, was rehired by his former employer in mid-January 2011 but continued to collect benefits for another nine-and-a-half months, the court heard Wednesday.
Over that time, Geisler took in a further $11,600 as he continued to file claimant reports through Service Canada's automated telephone system. The amount has since been paid back through a garnishment on his wages.
Service Canada decided to pursue court action because he had been caught making false claims three previous times, in 2006, 2007 and 2009, although he did pay back the amount he owed. Geisler also collected a further $4,500 in false claims after prosecution began, but has also paid that back.
A gambling addiction was cited as the reason Geisler made the claims.
Geisler made 20 claims over the time for which he was prosecuted. He pleaded guilty to four counts of EI fraud, one for each three-month period, and was fined $2,900 and assessed an $870 victim surcharge on each count.
The fine for EI fraud can range from $200 to $5,000 on each count. Geisler, who is currently working as a heavy equipment operator in the Fort Nelson area, has until Feb. 28, 2016 to pay the levies.
