No jail time for Lethbridge woman in extensive fraud, forgery and stolen identity case

Oct 30, 2019 | 8:00 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A 36-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to 12 offences was handed an 18-month Conditional Sentence Order in Lethbridge Provincial Court Wednesday (Oct.30).

Back in August, Kristina Lucille Zinger (Fiddler) pleaded guilty to two counts of fraudulent impersonation, obstruction, possession of stolen property over $5,000; making, possessing or selling identity documents, unlawfully possessing debit or credit cards, two counts of forgery, possessing an instrument to commit forgery, attempted fraud over $5,000; and possession of a prohibited weapon (CZ858 semi-automatic rifle).

During the first six months of her sentence, she will remain under house arrest 24 hours a day, except for approved outings. For the remainder of her sentence, she will be subject to an 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, will have to pay both Scotiabank and TD banks more than $35,000 in restitution, and will have to perform 100 hours of community service by the end of November, 2020.

While both the Crown and Defense agreed that a sentence of around two years would be appropriate, they differed in how that sentence should be served. Crown prosecutor Erin Olsen told the court a sentence of two years in jail was appropriate considering that Zinger bears a high degree of moral blameworthiness for her actions. Zinger had also previously had the benefit of three conditional sentences for drug-related crimes dating back 10 years, and had been sentenced to 45 days in jail for breaching her conditions in Jan. 2019 in relation to this case.

“Rather than showing remorse for her offences, she shows how it has affected her personally,” said Olsen, while addressing the judge.

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However, Defense lawyer Andre Ouellette told the court Zinger has three children, has in the past been addicted to crystal meth, cocaine and alcohol, and has been adversely affected by a series of toxic and manipulative relationships.

Her ex-husband Adam Daniel Zinger, pleaded guilty to several charges Oct. 22, 2018 in relation to the same case. He received a 27-month prison sentence.

Ouellette also argued that a CSO was indeed a jail term.

“There may not be metal doors closing behind you, but you are under the watchful eye of the community,” he added.

The judge told the court – while imposing the less than two year sentenc – that he was satisfied Zinger was remorseful and scared. Because she has a job, three children and family support, he said that “incarceration would interrupt this.”

In addition to the CSO, Zinger will also have to submit a DNA sample, must abstain from all alcohol and drugs unless prescribed, will have a no contact order in relation to her ex-husband, a lifetime weapons prohibition, and will forfeit all property seized by police, including a semi-automatic gun.

by Lara Fominoff