Woman sentenced for 14 charges in Lethbridge court, including identity fraud and theft

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Samantha Joy Ellison has learned her fate.

In Lethbridge Provincial Court Friday afternoon, she was given a conditional sentence of two years minus one day. During this time, the 29-year-old will reside with her family in Coaldale and attend a variety of counselling programs.

Ellison will be under a strict house arrest for the first six months, while then shifting to a curfew with several conditions afterwards.

On January 4th, 2018, police searched a hotel room on Mayor Magrath Drive and found identity documents including an Alberta Health Card, Bay Card, Scotia Bank card, and lending documents for a $40,000 Jeep that was bought in Edmonton.

Many of the documents and cards were linked to a Lethbridge woman whose identity was stolen. The victim eventually was able to get the loan reversed for the vehicle and got her money back.

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Ellison’s defense lawyer explained that his client was a victim of sexual assault a few years ago, and while trying to cope with what happened, turned to drugs, and that the drugs lead her down the path of crime.

She spoke in court Friday, explaining that she has been attending a rehab clinic in B.C., where she currently resides, and has completed the first step of her program. Ellison told Justice G.S. Maxwell that she wants to get clean so she can continue her education and start the process of having her children re-enter her life.

Justice Maxwell expressed concerns that Ellison lacked a foresight on the impacts that her actions would have and that she did not understand the “hell” that she put the victim through when her identity was stolen.

In addition to continuing her rehabilitative programming in Alberta and having the house arrest and curfew conditions, Ellison was ordered to have no contact with the victim, must abstain from impairing substances like alcohol and drugs, cannot be in a vehicle without the owner of the vehicle or without having the written consent of the owner, can only possess ID that has her name on it, and will only be able to leave her residence in Coaldale for approved reasons like work, medical care, issues relating to her kids, or to vote.