Former payroll manager ordered to pay nearly $2 million taken from BC construction companies

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The former payroll manager for two Surrey-based construction companies has been ordered to return about $1.9 million she took from the companies, as well as pay $100,000 in punitive damages.

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According to British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Gary WeatherillOver the course of several years, ending in August 2021 when he resigned, Domenica Fazio stole $1.9 million, using an elaborate scheme in which he placed unapproved wages into a series of accounts in his name.

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Weatherill’s ruling does not establish whether Fazio has been criminally charged, but rather addresses a civil lawsuit brought by the two connected companies, BA Blacktop Ltd. and Eurovia BC Inc., against her.

The companies discovered the fraud shortly after Fazio’s resignation, when they began an internal investigation into payroll records. In December 2021, the companies filed a civil lawsuit against Fazio and were partially successful in freezing his assets.

Fazio’s response to the civil complaint did not deny the allegations of fraud and deception, but did state that she had been mistreated at work.

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In September 2022, the companies hired a forensic accountant who discovered 885 examples of money diverted to 19 Fazio-operated bank accounts at four banks.

“The extensive materials submitted by the plaintiffs, combined with Mr. Williams’ forensic accounting expert report and supplemented by the counsel’s skillful presentations, paint a compelling case of fraud, misappropriation, conversion and deception against Ms. Fazio,” Weatherill wrote in his sentencing.

“Simply put, while in a position of trust, Ms. Fazio perpetrated deliberate, methodical, and exploitative fraud on plaintiffs by using her knowledge and experience as a payroll administrator and payroll supervisor to transfer large sums of money during six years to the bank. accounts that she owned and controlled. Either on the same day or soon after, she transferred the funds from her accounts to other accounts or put them to other uses.”

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Weatherill dismissed Fazio’s claims that he had been subjected to harassment, sexual harassment, overwork and general mistreatment during his time at the companies, which began in 1998.

“During the introductions, Ms. Fazio effectively admitted to fraud. She says that she developed a gambling addiction and bet all the money on an online gambling portal. She says that she now has no assets or income and that she is in poor health,” she wrote.

“I am amply satisfied that the plaintiffs have more than proved their case against Ms. Fazio. She has no defense.”

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