Former Calgary councillor Joe Magliocca apologizes for filing false expense claims
Disgraced former Calgary city councillor Joe Magliocca apologized Thursday for filing false expense claims that led to his fraud conviction.
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'I'm very sorry that these were submitted,' he told Justice Gord Wong.
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'I apologize to the citizens of Calgary, who I was honoured to serve for eight years. I am sorry if I have caused them to lose trust in public service,' Magliocca said.
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'I did not set out to mislead or hurt anyone.'
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Rankin suggested a longer conditional term and told Wong that Magliocca's conduct could have justified a three- to six-month period of incarceration.
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Sankoff had sought a six-month conditional sentence.
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'I'm not asking for a ridiculous sentence,' Sankoff said.
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The lawyer took issue with Rankin's submission that there was a significant level of premeditation in Magliocca's crime.
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Rankin noted Magliocca sought out individuals at trade fairs he attended in his role as a council member so he could get business cards and include them in expenses he later claimed.
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'I'm not denying there was a fraud,' Sankoff responded.
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'But there are different types of frauds,' said the Edmonton-based lawyer, who did not act for Magliocca at trial.
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In January, Wong convicted Magliocca of fraud over his false expense claims, but acquitted him on a charge of breach of trust.
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Magliocca filed 19 separate expense claims in which he included the names of other politicians who attended conferences. Those individuals later denied attending meals or other functions in which the former Ward 2 council member claimed he bought food or drinks.
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