A Squamish woman who used her position as a bookkeeper to steal almost $200,000 from two North Vancouver dentists and an insurance company will not face jail time.
Allyson Steffensen, 49, was sentenced in North Vancouver Provincial Court on Aug. 19.
In July 2019, one of the dentists noticed insurance payments to her practice showing up in her accounting system but not in her bank account. Further investigation found cheques that were cashed and not deposited, and insurance payments for treatments she did not actually do, which she reported to the North Vancouver RCMP. Another dentist came forward to police after noticing similar financial irregularities.
After a complex RCMP investigation, the Crown swore four counts of fraud over $5,000 and four counts of theft over $5,000 against Steffensen in February 2023. In January, she pleaded guilty to two lesser counts of theft over $5,000 in North Vancouver Provincial Court.
Steffensen’s lawyer said, at the time the thefts began, she was feeling overwhelmed by financial problems. She also turned to gambling in hopes of making more money and for a feeling of escape. She was later diagnosed with a gambling disorder and depression.
By the time of her sentencing, Steffensen had already repaid in full the money she took from her former employers and the insurance company.
Steffensen told the court she was deeply remorseful and ashamed of her conduct and said she was trying to move on with her life.
Given the facts of the case, both Crown and defence agreed a sentence that included eight months of house arrest, eight months of living under a nightly curfew and 50 hours of community service would be appropriate.
Before handing down the sentence, North Vancouver Provincial Court Judge Patricia Bond acknowledged the harm that Steffensen’s actions had caused the victims.
“You were well aware of the high level of trust that the two young dentists invested in you. And took advantage of it. You stole almost $200,000 – a significant amount of money. This was not an isolated incident, nor were you acting on impulse. You devised and acted upon three different schemes directed at three different victims,” she said. “They made clear that you stole not only their money, but their time, their trust and their peace of mind. As professionals establishing their practices and young mothers, they were overworked, financially stretched because they were heavily indebted and struggling to make time to meet their family obligations.”
But Bond also commended Steffensen for repaying the money – much of it before she was charged and the rest before sentencing – and noted that she is at low risk to reoffend. Bond also acknowledged the harm Steffensen had done in her own life, both financially and emotionally. She suffered humiliation and a mental health crisis when the RCMP put out a release about the charges being sworn. She lost the ability to work in positions of trust, and the added financial strain of repaying the debts contributed to the end of her relationship with her partner.
“You have already experienced significant consequences,” Bond said, agreeing to the sentence of house arrest.
