Ontario adoption agency, with clients in Alberta, charged with fraud

By Jason Van Rassel

April 8, 2011/ Calgary Herald

The owners of an Ontario-based international adoption agency with clients in Alberta have been charged with fraud.

Waterloo Regional Police announced this morning that Rick Hayhow, 46, and Susan Hayhow, 45 of Imagine Adoption Inc. are jointly charged with breach of trust, six counts of fraud over $5,000 and three counts of fraud under $5,000. They have also been charged separately with one count each of fraud over $5,000.

In a statement, police allege the pair inappropriately spent more than $420,000 of agency funds on personal expenses such as trips, clothes and renovations to their home in Cambridge, west of Toronto.

The agency entered bankruptcy proceedings in July 2009, placing a number of pending adoptions from countries such as Ethiopia in doubt.

Police said they launched their investigation following complaints from the public about the non-profit agency.

Investigators arrested Rick Hayhow in Cambridge on Thursday. Police took Susan Hayhow into custody the same day in Whitby, Ont., east of Toronto.

The Hayhows were released from custody pending a court appearance in Cambridge on May 26.

More to come.

 

jvanrassel@calgaryherald.com

Twitter:@JasonvanRassel

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De ja vu?

How come this sounds familiar?

Oh, very familiar... TOO familiar

What's staggering is the PAP response to problems found within an adoption agency:

A bankrupt international adoption agency could re-start operations by next month if a complex restructuring plan is approved by creditors, including the families affected.

The plan for Imagine Adoption -- whose collapse this summer devastated hundreds of would-be adoptive families, including many in the London area -- calls for each family to pay another $4,000 on top of what they’ve already paid.

Families have estimated an international adoption through Imagine, a Cambridge-based agency, costs about $20,000.

The families are now reviewing the restructuring plan, which was prepared by bankruptcy trustee BDO Dunwoody. If those families approve it, the agency could be operating by October.

In a statement, one would-be adoptive parent said she was “pleased” with the plan.

“Clearly there are important issues still left to be addressed and the increased financial commitment demanded by the plan will present a challenge for many families,” wrote Christine Starr.

“Personally, however, and in light of the painful reality of this situation and the limited alternatives available to us, I am pleased with the plan and feel strongly that it offers families our best hope of successfully completing our adoptions.”

[From:  Bankrupt adoption agency could be back in business soon, 2009 ]

Now... what pray-tell is the PAP response going to be, if they learn fast-tracking an adoption-plan may not be an option  in a country trying to close its ICA doors?

Never fear..help is near

Maybe JCICS can "help" them?

Pound Pup Legacy