$1 million stolen and used at the casino by a notary in Quebec

A great lover of casino games and poker in particular, Jean-Manuel Estrela has just fallen into the hands of the Quebec justice system. The reason mentioned in the national media? This former discount notary would have used the casino to divert the funds of many customers. On the counter? Almost a million dollars for "his personal benefit". Return.

More than $600,000 found in his dirty laundry basket

In 2016, Mr. Estrela had already been the subject of investigations by the Professional Order of the Chamber of Notaries of Quebec for questionable practices. This is how the creation of a "factory of notarial deeds at a discount" having issued more than 6,000 deeds in the space of 3 years, but also other non-ethical acts are publicly pointed out. These "offenses" cost him a first layoff.

A first alarm signal which subsequently highlighted the tidy sum of 861,300 dollars embezzled: Jean-Manuel Estrela is struck off for life from the Ordre des notaires du Québec for embezzlement of funds. Dirty laundry basket, attic or sweeper, the cash is hidden in every corner of the former notary's house.

How could he have so much cash? The casino games

« The ultimate goal of Jean-Manuel Estrela was not simply to play this money at the casino, he used it to be able to withdraw large amounts of cash " indicates the judgment. Money that he then used to travel to the four corners of the planet, but also to settle some personal debts.

The former notary has, in fact, indicated to the judge that he had to face some financial difficulties, in particular because of an extremely expensive wedding and the purchase of a luxurious house worth more than 800,000 dollars... The judge indicates moreover, that after knowing that he was under investigation for his practices, Mr Estrela would have started the embezzlement of funds at that precise moment.

Last February, the former notary made various bank transfers totaling $ 244,500 from his trust account to his credit card. This pretty sum was then transformed into casino chips. A few days later, the ex-notary withdraws $286,340 in cash from the gambling establishment. « So Mr Estrela arrives in the casino, plays a little and leaves the establishment with the cash that he managed to withdraw "affirms the judgment.

A more than salty bill for the former notary

Mr Estrela also called on a private lender and set up a scheme to obtain loans thanks to false documents (power of attorney, contract and mortgage) and all this using the name of his in-laws... ignoring the situation, of course

The Ordre des notaires du Québec has not yet indicated the amount of the embezzled money, but insisted that all the defrauded clients would be compensated up to $ 100,000 per victim of this dishonest notary.