A 44-year-old Hawkesbury-area lawyer is facing theft charges after allegations were made that more than $500,000 was misappropriated from multiple clients.
The OPP’s Serious Fraud Office began to investigate in December 2024 after the Hawkesbury detachment’s crime unit received complaints of suspected misuse of client trust funds related to legal services, police said in a news release Tuesday.
Marc Gauthier, of Casselman, has been charged with three counts of theft over $5,000, laundering proceeds of crime and criminal breach of trust.
Gauthier, who was released from custody, was to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa on Tuesday.
According to a Law Society Tribunal decision posted online on Jan. 30, Gauthier has had his licence revoked.
According to the decision, between November and December 2022 he allegedly misappropriated approximately $100,000 in client trust funds from a mixed trust account and between November 2023 and September 2024 he allegedly misappropriated more than $530,000 that he held for four clients.
In their release Tuesday, police said the investigation into this case continues, and anyone with information that could help in it was asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Those wanting to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.
