Addict admits $289k pension fund theft
(CNS):A 40-year-old US national admitted stealing CI$289,660 from the Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce pension fund over a two year period to fund an uncontrollable drug habit. Robert Shultz pleaded guilty to a rolled up charge of theft on Tuesday which included more than 40 illegal transactions made while he was the pension’s sole employee. Michael Snape, prosecuting counsel, told the court that Shultz had forged his board of trustee’s signatures to draw money from the Chamber pension’s bank account and transfer it to his own via a series of wire transfers, dressed up as bonus payments. Using his position of trust, Snape said Shultz had committed a premeditated serious crime.
“No theft is ever a good theft,” Snape told Justice Charles Quin, as he set out the crown’s case against Shultz, “but in this case we also have deception and forgery,” he added, as he pointed to the important element of a breach of trust, which the prosecutor said had a far wider impact on the community.
Snape noted that, becaise it is compulsory in the Cayman Islands for everyone to contribute to a pension fund, the degree of trust the public needs to have in the accredited schemes is far greater than would normallybe the case. The prosecutor asked the judge to start his sentencing consideration with at the very least four years imprisonment, before discounting for mitigating circumstances, as a deterrent.
However, defence counsel Ben Tonner drew the judge’s attention to the unusual circumstances of the case and the host of mitigating factors, not least his client’s hopeless addiction. Tonner said that unlike most other breach of trust cases, where the perpetrators are often motivated to commit the offence by greed or perhaps debt, his client was suffering from a sickness. He pointed to the inevitability of the crime, given the circumstances of the dependency problem and the lack of sophistication in the offence that meant it was certain to come to light as a paper trail led right to him.
Tonner related his client’s story from when he came to Cayman from California with his wife in 2007, only to have his marriage fall apart shortly after. He then began to spiral into a depression, which led to the misuse of alcohol and then cocaine.
Shultz stole the money to feed an escalating drug habit that he could not control, and despite several attempts to get clean, he was unable to escape the clutches of what Tonner described as a narcotic with a notorious reputation for its impact on users.
Once his client’s offending came to light, Tonner said, he had immediately admitted his crime and cooperated fully with the police. He told the court that Shultz has persevered and had begun to tackle his addiction before he was remanded in custody. Since being in HMP Northward for the last eight months, however, the court heard that it has not been easy for Shultz as there is no rehabilitation programme for addicts in the prison system.
Nevertheless, and despite being a victim of persecution and afraid for his safety in the jail, which was reported to the authorities, he has continued to get clean and abstain from any substance abuse.
Tonner explained that Shultz was genuinely remorseful, which was borne out by various character references and the social enquiry report. Although he would want to pay back the money he has stolen, his client admits all of the money went on his $200 to $500 a day cocaine habit.
Now that he is incarcerated and unlikely to be ever granted a work permit, he cannot make financial restitution. However, Tonner explained that Shultz was seeking an opportunity to pay back the community another way. Shultz implored the judge, via his attorney, to use the alternative sentencing available to him to hand down some form of community order on top of the time he has already served in jail to allow him to pay back for his offence in a meaningful way.
“We have very little guidance over the difference in offences motivated by greed and those motivated by drugs, which in my submission is an illness,” the attorney said. Tonner then pointed to the drug court as an example of how legislators have indicated that drug addiction as a motivator in crime is a different class of offending.
The defence attorney noted that, while he did not suggest such a case as the one before the judge was suitable for that specialist court, the message was clear that those who commit non-violent crime because of addiction have an opportunity to be rehabilitated and not have a conviction recorded against them if they get clean. He said this was because addition is an illness and when offenders commit crime to satisfy their addiction to drugs they are set apart from other offenders.
After hearing the guilty pleas, the circumstances of the offence and the attorney’s submissions regarding the appropriate sentencing, Justice Quin said he would deliver his decision on 4 December.
Related article on CNS Business:
Custodian appointed for Chamber Pension Plan
Category: Crime
I read with interest the reporting from another media source on this matter whereby the Attorney informed the judge that this man was willing to work and pay back the money or words to that effect, and that his client had a job offer. I only hope that the relevant authority investigates this.
Convicted for theft! Possessed and used drugs and someone offered this guy a job right away? Unbelievable! And there are so many honest qualified and "Criminal Record Free” Caymanians who are unemployed -willing and able to work but can’t find a job! Mr. Miller I think this is a good case for you to follow up on – or any other member of the Legislative Assembly for that matter.
This sickens me to the bone! – This really ought to be seriously looked into. It’s absolutely appalling! I wonder how many Caymanians or legal residents tried to land a job at that same establishment but was never hired. It would really be interesting to know if such a thing did occur. I
will continue to read with interest.
His supplier must be laughing all the way to the bank…
I wonder who that supplier is…
See anyone in a new ride lately?
Next person I see in a shiny new ride, Im calling the police hotline to tell them I think its him…
It is really interesting that the 40 illegal transactions have been "rolled up" into one .I hope this does not mean that he will be treated as a one time offender.
He will probably do 5 years because he’s not caymanian! If it was a caymanian 30 yrs in jail!
Watch & see!
Caymanian
They will let him travel to see his sick father never to be seen again.
This is who is in charge of my hard earned money a dam coke head are you kidding me. No wonder we are loosing money they are so high they don’t know and don’t care how they invest. This is very serious and needs to be investigated properly. You mean to tell me they did not notice that this man was all coked up five hundred a day is a lot. What kind of management do they have working there they should be held accountable as well. Scar Face investing my money.
A shame so that’s where the twenty five thousand that I lost went to. This pension plan is a big rip off especially for people planning to retire in the next couple of years.
They need to investigate co workers. Heard he wasn't the only one involved. XXXX needs to drug test all employees they would be shocked.
have you read the article?
"included more than 40 illegal transactions made while he was the pension’s sole employee."
so which of those non existent co-workers should they test?
So because he was the sole employee it's OK? For Heaven's sake it is the CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 's Pension Plan – do you think that there are no other employees or individuals involved with that orgainisation. I agree with those who wonder how it could have escaped the overseers of the Pension that they had a $500 per day cocaine user running its operation. Absolutely scandalous!!
Cocaine is a hell of a drug!
Da wa dey get!
They shoulda hired one of the many competent honest Caymanians who are now unemployed!
Thank goodness it wasn't a J'can this time. My ppl need a break from being criticized. Da wah unuh get!
If the name was not given, They would jump on Jamaican backs because they so love to hate jamaicans.Why? Because Jamaicans are innovative people. They make life even where others fail in the same conditions even with all their imperfections.
Oh next thing they'll shoot all the Caymanian people I guess.
First they disenfranchise us so badly we can't get a job in our homeland because we are "CAMANIAN!" or got a record for smoking one stupid stick of ganga.
Secondly, they grab $300,000.00 share it up with whomever his accomplices are, as he could NOT have pulled this one off on his own guys! don't believe that!
Then he cries fowl. Oh, I am an addictQ! that's way too easy.
He's covering for someone else or some one elses! But our you know who are so darned lazy and good for nothing it would be a great task to dig deeper and bring in the others!
So long…..
My question who is going to prosecute Juliana for the $214,000 she stole from the people of the Cayman Islands funding her vacation sprees around the world opps they are called business trips ????. I guess her theft is legal !!!!!!!!
Son: dad I’m considering a career inorganized crime?
Dad: government or private sector?
Son: I don’t know, why?
Dad: Personally I’d suggest government, they never go to jail 😎
"What is the difference between a politician and a Leader? A Politician is thinking about the next election. A Leader is thinking about the next generation
There can be no doubt that the pension trustee failed in its duties by allowing such an addict to carry on in employment for so long. I am assuming that the trustee will make good the shortfall from any fees it charges.
I don't think the photograph is that accurate, since no-one would use a $100 bill for this purpose. THAT would be a waste of money.
Well, it's clear you don't do cocaine – though your choice of name is interesting. Double bluff?
$1 $5 and $10 are usually too well worn and dirty to use.
$20 is the favourite choice – except for the financial sector who use $100 (no surprise there)
ALLEGEDLY.
Banknotes are for weekend amateurs. The pros use straws, ideally silver ones. Less waste.
Can I now sue the chamber for the lost of my pension fund over the said mention two year. let get one going. it was the poor mangerment that allowed this…
No you cant sue the pension sheme, government gave them that immunity…so sad!
Let get on it and make the changes,lost of money from pension =lost of spending capital in Cayman.. We need the right persons in the house to make the changes.Sweep the house next year. people has givn away too much.
Our government would cause it is not their money. They have wasted way more on lesser causes.
INSURED MONEY?
Whether he pays it back or not, that lost money should be insured and refunded , as banks have their money insured in case of a robbery. This is just the same, and everyone should after being compensated withdraw every penny since they are not trustworthy. Not even the Auditors? Cayman does not need a pension fund, its too risky with a legal system that does not work and shady politicians, and open boarders. Its best to bank your money that way you'll have full control over it, Do not believe this pension fund foolishness, its a scam for government and other Wall street crooks to get your hands on your hard earned money.
Get rid of it. You may never live to enjoy it. So remove every penny. YOu can take better care of your money than anyone else. Does this teach you a lesson or not.
Good grief, what kind of auditors are they ?they should have to pay it back, no easy way out.
17;27
will give you one million thumbs up.
You are so correct…. this is a scheme that the financial crookes… hood whiped the government bak in 1998 to rip off the caymanian people.
Government needs to scrap it and start their own social security . there is no liability clause within this Pension scheme, one morning we will allwake up and be told..'sorry people!..we lost all the funds, and there is nothing we can do about it.
They already lost 200 million and nothing was done, no one even as much as did an investigation on this lost fund.
I think this man should immediately run for office! he has all the credentials! UDP will be proud to have another scoundrel manipulate another part of government!
This should make the RCIP feel foolish, he found over a 1/4 million dollars of drugs and they can't !
I couldn't figure out why I kept losing so much of my pension. It's not like I had much to begin with and they wouldn't let me transfer it to another pension fund. Now I know why.
Can we now sue the chamber directors for putting all the asset for such ashe. We should demand that the Director resign his (Papa Doc) post.
JOB OPENING FOR CAYMANIANS ONLY!
Contact: WHO ?
IF ONLY!
They wouldn't have dont this!!
Oh yes all those Caymanians convicted,for stealing large sums from the banks they worked in are conveniently forgotten. People are people. Your post is racist.
How terrible!
He’s the real victim here!
Think about it! It was all those commercials that made him do it and video games and Hollywood! Damn you Hollywood!!!
…Now lets hope he can get the help he needs by growing up and actually taking responsibility for his actions…you sir = FAIL.
Perhaps this explains the continuous reduction in my Chambers pension statements. It seemed the more I put in the less my pension was worth each month. In the end I had to move my pension elsewhere before all the money was gone. I had only invested a very small amount, but if those with large investments in this pension plan are experiencing similar reductions in pension value, I encourage you to try elsewhere. My pension is now positively blooming.
Every member should follow
09;50
It took you this long to find out! this is a ponzi scheme. …you lucky you have anything left at all.
Addict my a…s! Soap opera.
This prof that people are criminals when they come here, a lot of criminal records get erased before they leave their country because of corruption! We need a network system that shows outsiders history even though it might be erased! That will let Us know what they are capable of before they hit our streets!
Wp
We need to get rid of all the trash like him. His Psychology does not work.
how…..exactly???!
If it's been erased……its GONE…..FOREVER!!!
Just wondering if this doesn’t strike a chord with the judiciary and law makers and more-so, the public at large; “ there is no rehabilitation programme for addicts in the prison system.” How many inmates do we have that are in Northward for posession, supply, consumption of all manner of narcotics or prescription addiction? How many of them are continuing to abuse these drugs while incarcerated? How many NEW users are created in the prison system? And then when all is said and done we just turn them back out into society, unemployable and hooked on drugs?! We need to face the reality that this is probably doing more harm to these young men that anything else. Isn’t the whole point of a prison system to rehabilitate individuals who have gone astray and help them PRODUCTIVELY intergate themselves into society once they have paid for their mistakes? Seems like someone dropped the ball on this one.
It somewhat convenient that he persevered to tackle the addiction before being caught, in order to blame it on an imaginary addiction to get a sympathy sentence? Personally, I do not believe he is a user or an addict and Cocaine is being used as a scapegoat to get a slap on the wrist.
If this man spent $289,000 on drugs in Cayman, he made several people very wealthy – has anybody asked him who supplied what, by any measure, must have been an enormous amount of Class “A” drugs.
Let’s just hope the police don’t drive him to the Westin for a bathroom break
Why would he expect to be treated differently from anyone? Same punishment as if he was from Bosun Bay or Windsor Park, don't you think?
If he is to get equal treatment one would expect a year on the drug court programme, a certificate, a blackberry and no jail time.
What about crimes motivated by the natural instinct to feed and clothe your cubs…increasingly difficult on these shores… When your hard working parent who no matter what can’t make ends meet. Surely my motivation would trump an addiction to hitting rails everyday! Don’t like NORTHWARD… Yeah well I don’t like the balance of my chamber account! BOOHOO… SORRY FA U!
Bring in the finger printing system! If we had it this wouldn’t happen because the system would have been network, showing everyone crimes, we can’t deal with of own caymanian people muchless outsiders! !!
Bracer
Do read the article. He had no criminal record before arriving in Cayman, so fingerprinting would have made no difference at all.
Don't let facts get in the way of inflammatory xenophobia and prejudice.
Don't you know drug dealers take fingerprint records in other countries!
I love you got thumbs down for pointing out the obvious and destroying his sad bigotted arguement.
Maybe they can get WP holders to swear on a bible when they arrive that they Heart is pure and their hands are clean!
Dat some big money!
At least when Miss Julie wastes that sort of money she gets to see the world.
Difference is he will go to jail and she will get a statue in Heroes Square (it give some good shade though).
If we had the finger printing system this addict wouldn’t been able to be employed here muchless steal from us! Not because it’s white mean it right!
Bracer
What's a 'Bracer'?
Supposed to be “Bracker” but they can’t use proper spelling & grammar. Brace yourself or bracer yourself!
Get someone to read the article for you and then maybe ten or twenty of the articles about your Caymanian Premeir and deputy premeir. Let that sink in then get back to us about who is still employed (by you) and stealing from all of us.
Only Caymanians can be dishonest, Expats are angels never can do no wrong,waiting for the sentence.
Please explain how finger printing would have stopped him being employed here?
read the article, it states that he DID NOT have a criminal record before he got here, so please enlighten me how his fingerprints would be in any criminal system.
You have to actually commit a crime for your fingerprints to be collected on to a criminal database. The don't just appear magically when you go over the speedlimit or steal without getting caught
I can't beleive you don't have the common sense to realise this, makes me wonder what you have been smoking
I do not believe for one second that he spent this amount on drugs.Search far and wide for any property he may have bought ,with his ill gotten cash.
At least this one is still here. Should give him a medal and then off to the prison he goes.
And I quote:
“This is a great opportunity for the people living in the Cayman Islands to improve their financial literacy,” says Robert Schultz, Chamber Pension Plan’s Customer Relationship Manager. “By reaching out to the community we are confident that we can inspire positive changes when it comes to personal finance”.
You better believe it! His!!
Now, this is the true test of the stupidity of the worthless Labor Board, The Cayman Immigration and Work Permit Board's slack, careless, and reckless policies that endanger our socioeconomic position.
IS IT NOW TIME FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS,AIDS, DRUG TESTS, FINGERPRINTING AND DEMAND POLICE RECORDS FROM EXPATS COMING HERE TO WORK?
Had they checked his background and did drug testing etc. they would have seen in his court records abroad that he is an addict and probably something more.A person does not become an addict overnight. He was one while applying for the job!
The Cayman Islands without a doubt is run by "Dummies", and that is the main reasonthe whole world is flocking here.
Comissioner David Baines has been here 2 full years and has put 'NOTHING" in place to deter these kinds of crimes escalating through importation of so called labor!
Our elected officials do not have the commonsense to do the same. They have all failed us. But yet the system slams a police record on our young kids for one tick of ganga? This has to cease. They must be given a chance.
Everybody seems to be trying to sink our beloved Cayman.From the Evil Eye on our Turtle Farm to stealing our Pension. Its time to put the brakes on Pirates coming ashore.
Oh yeah, his friends invited him here to Cayman as usual and told him it's so easy to pull off anything, and everything in Cayman especially if you have "fair skin."
YOu could be the biggest child molester, and the latest bank robber, if you have fair skin and are a foreigner, you are most "Welcome in this Region where the" Dummies" are in Charge.
08:40, not sure what planet you are on but in Cayman, if you are an expat and want to work you are given tests for drugs / disease and have to provide a police record from your country as part of the permit process alomg with a host of other requirements.
He must have passed.
" they would have seen in his court records abroad that he is an addict and probably something more.A person does not become an addict overnight. He was one while applying for the job!"
He couldn't have had a record in the first place to gain employment as an expat in Cayman, especially if it was a record for substance abuse or theft.
"YOu could be the biggest child molester, and the latest bank robber, if you have fair skin and are a foreigner…….""
The latest slew of rapes and robberies have been committed by Caymanians. When have you read or heard of "fair skinned" people commiting these acts or being caught for these acts in Cayman?
Your post is an ill thought racist blurb with absolutely no substance, logic or sense whatsoever.
An embarassed Caymanian.
Ganja would have never cause him to do that.
Depends on how much pain he wouldn’t face, and the price of ganja
22:09 I must agree, ganga would never cause him to do that. Just the other day I was discussing with a high authority, that Alcohol and cocaine is the worse among drugs.
ALCOHOL USER their thoughts are agressive and violent make up of quick in acting with no thinking at all until the next day. you do every thing that is bad. Fight steal, beat up your wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend and run your children out of their home, cheat, lie, fornicate, adultry, jealousy, covetious, hateful stupid talk nonsense and facial looks are very ugly.
COCAINE USER is a planner. Cannot be tructed. Devious, thief and liars. Does not show any passion for family, no feelings whatsover for intamacy, just wanting one high after another. Those persons who take this drug feels like they are invisible all the time. They are always displaying power while doing the drug and turns into a timid rabbit when the trip is over. Cocaine users will Thief and lie. They feel like no one can see them, but they can see the world.
GANGA USER This drug will act in one of two ways on a person. Either make them very lazy or cannot stop working. This drug makes a person think, and meditate. If you are a work aholic, it will make you work even more. If you were a lazy person it will make you even more lazy. Usually the weed smoker is not agressive, they can be observed as siting quietely in a corner unde a tree or on a bench meditating. Having a conversation with them is more of a spiritual realm, one which the ordinary person will not undestand. They have much vision and seek after spiritual enhancement. You do not find weed smokers stealing or cursing, or being agressive unless they DRINK ALCOHOL with it. Many times some weed smokers will drink with the weed. It is not a good mixture. Sticking to the herb alone, you cannot find a better calmer person.
Take your pick.
Even with a very serious addiction to cocaine, $289,000 would feed the habit for well over 20 years.
Even Miss Cleo will be able to predict this one…slap on the wrist; just wait and see.
I could spend that in six months back in the day.
Umm, you did
Yes, he likely wants to hide it so he can retrieve it when he gets out. Saying he spent in on cocaine wouldn't leave anyone hoping, or looking, to get anything back. It's called "beating the system." Hope the Judge demands that he state who he bought the cocaine from before he gets any leniency.
The article says was a $200 to $500 a day habit. Dont know the cost of the drug and whether this is physically possible but taking the lower would give about four years of use.
Speak for yourself. Caring is sharing.
$300.00 to $500.00 a day on drugs and not one of his employers
recognises there is a problem.
Oh My, can not imagen what the investments went into.
What did the OEC HAVE TO SAY, still in his job!!!
Ya, ya, ya, ya, This always happens in Cayman, in the Government and the Private sector business places. It is only a matter of time to catch some of them. I fell no way unhappy that the Chamber has been fleeced. Because in Cayman once you speak with a foreign accent you are trusted and given any job. In fact it is happening to many business places on the Island right now. There is no spy glass on them, only on the Caymanians who have no where to go.
It's a pity he didn't clean the account. When I retired after 40 years, I never got that amount. He got more, because he collected his salary plus the $289,000. Good job, could you please rehire him.
The extremely expensive "war on drugs" is a moralistically based failure, as documented by multiple long term studies and scientific review.
Keeping him incarcerated will serve nothing – the deterrent effect does not work. Don't believe me? Research it before giving me the thumbs down.
He's not being bailed for drugs, but for theft. Breach of trust. That his reason for beign greedy was drugs shouldn't matter, IMHO. But thats for the judge to decide.
This makes no sense.
Where are the audits, checks and controls.
If a bank can weed out a bad teller that takes a few hundred why was this not caught.
300K at 300-500 a day thats close to THREE years of theft.
His Leadership should be fired!
Rolled-up charge. Nice one.
Hey immigration – how did he get a work permit if he has to satisfy you he is not involved with illegal drugs? Hey chamber – how do you select the guys to look after my retirement? Hey Schultz – I have some sympathy for you but I hope to hell you are telling all you can about the supply network that fed your addiction for years. XXXX
Yes, he should have to give evidence against his drug dealer before he is given any leniency.
Yes, being shot is a sensible option.
You want to make a big dent in Cayman drug sales. Make him a deal. About 1/2 of his projeced 20 year sentenance for full disclosure of all his drug sealings over the years. He is off the streets for 10 years athen deported….if he lives throught it.
If he truly is remorseful, he should tell the police who is bought cocaine from so that they may seize their assets and get the penioners back their money. Otherwise, he should serve the maximum time in prison is my opinion.
Send him back home with a one-way ticket and a guarnatee he has to pay back the money or face jail time in Calif.. We do not need his community service nor for him to be another burden on our society in any way. He has done enough damage and anything less would be an insult to those who lost money. He is not sick as his lawyer says. He is a crack head and a manipulator and a blight to these shores. Him and many others. We all have a choice to do drugs and risk getting hooked or stay away from them. He made a bad choice and does not get my sympathy.
The Chamber should do random drugs tests on their employees. Other estabiishments and businesses do.
Caymanians are not employed in those positions, but permits can be given (not issued) to anyone who steps off a plane and we have no clue as to their character/rap sheet. Parade him through George Town as the Chamber of Commerce Pension keeper.
Should not all CIG employees and others who deal with other people's money have regular mandatory drug tests? I worked once in a car dealership !!!!- and we all had random drug tests-right in the middle of a work day.
I wonder how many Caymanians were turned down for the job- that is if they even advertised it. I like many of the posters on here do not believe for one minute that he spent it all on drugs – if he did he should get double fines because cocaine is an illegal drug in Cayman. Who is going to pay back that money to the pensioners any way. I hope the legal department is working overtime on this one to determine if he transferred funds overseas. That is easy enough to do!! Cheryll Richards this one is for you!!