TRURO, N.S. – A Bible Hill business man has been sentenced to two years in a federal penitentiary after pleading guilty to 14 counts of fraud and other criminal charges.
Michael Henry Upton, 53 of Pictou Road, was also ordered to pay restitution to his victims totaling $78,792.
The convictions stem from an RCMP investigation into business transactions related to Upton’s shed construction company on Pictou Road.
The charges relate to fraudulent incidents that occurred between May 2014 to July 2016 and involve individual amounts ranging from a low of $500 to a high of $17,600.
Similar charges relating to co-accused Lisa Dale Muise were all dismissed by the Crown.
Upton also pled guilty to possessing a stolen trailer and lumber and possession of bolt cutters for the purpose of break and enter, related to an incident on Oct. 8 in Kemptown. He further pled guilty to a charge from the same date of break and enter with intent involving Dave’s Lumber in West River.
Upton was ordered to provide a DNA sample and take counselling for a gambling addiction and personal financial management and after completing his prison sentence must serve a two-year probation term.