Bloomfield’s Jennifer Simao, 47, is on the hook for stealing almost $1 million from an employer, the County’s Theatre Roulant, and her own mother. 

A trail of deceit, including fraudulent letters and invoices, pathological lying, and theft, led to the Quinte Consolidated Courthouse last week for a sentencing hearing. Ms. Simao faces three counts of fraud and one of obstruction of justice.

The marketing manager at Impacto between 2018 and 2022, Ms. Simao created false online advertising campaigns using Shopify and Amazon accounts to steal $712,000. She also ordered items from Amazon delivered to her home address and paid for them using company credit cards.

The established pattern of deceit includes
forged letters and invoices,
compulsive lying,
and theft of almost $1 million,
including from her own mother.

In 2023, Ms. Simaro misdirected over $5,300 into a personal account while working as Communications and Media Director for the Station Road Arts Collective. She created an e-transfer address similar to the one used by Station Road — only it led to her own back account.

Ms. Simao pleaded guilty to these charges in July 2025.

While awaiting sentencing, Ms. Simao was arrested and charged on September 12 last year with three new counts of fraud.

Ms. Simao’s mother Katherine Schoner went to police after being contacted by the Canada Revenue Agency regarding a $4,000 tax bill for withdrawals from her RRSP. 

Belleville OPP detectives determined that in February and March 2023, Ms. Simao took nearly $18,000 from her mother’s retirement account.

Then the detectives dug deeper. Ms. Schoner said she felt called by compassion to support her daughter Ms. Simao with medical and legal expenses after she received a liver transplant and subsequently experienced failing health. She asked her daughter to provide receipts for the expenses she reimbursed.

Ms. Simao produced letters from a pharmacy detailing $42,000 for experimental medication not yet available in Canada. There were also letters from a Montreal-based attorney requesting $12,000 in retainers related to a civil matter.

The court heard that Ms. Simao forged all the correspondence to bilk her mother out an additional $54,000. All told, Ms. Simao siphoned away $71,000 from her elderly parent. 

The Latest Episode

On Wednesday last week, Ms. Simao pleaded guilty to the charges of fraud against her mother. She also pleaded guilty to an obstruction of justice charge for an absence from court on January 30.

On that occasion, Ms. Simao forged a  letter purportedly from a faculty member at the Toronto General Hospital. She passed this letter to her former lawyer, who delivered it to the court.

The letter stated Ms. Simao was too ill to attend the January sentencing hearing; she was on the verge of daily dialysis due to her liver condition.

An estranged family member in court that day sensed something awry. She relayed her concerns to authorities.

Police determined the letter was another forgery. Ms. Simao was arrested for a third time on February 10. Her bail was revoked and she was remanded to the Quinte Detention Centre, where she has resided since. 

Victim Statements

Both John Burns and Conrad Beaubien of Station Road Arts entered Victim Impact statements from the witness box. 

In his life, Mr. Burns said, he’d never encountered a situation where a long-standing and complex relationship turned out to be based entirely in fraud, deception and avarice.

“I have never encountered a person that could smile at me the same day she was removing thousands of dollars from my bank account,” he said.

“Jennifer, I would feel much better if I believed that this would be a lesson for you, and you would move forward with your life ethically and morally. But I seriously believe this not to be the case. 

“In my opinion, your next victim awaits,” said Mr. Burns from the witness box.

“SHAME ON YOU! SHAME!” he thundered to the court.

During a break in the the proceedings, Mr. Burns told the Gazette that he and Mr. Beaubien think Station Road Arts was defrauded by Ms. Simao of nearly $20,000, although they could only trace $5,370 for the court.

“It is close to a miracle our organization continues at all, really,” he added.

Finally, Ms. Simao herself addressed the court. She said her trouble started after a medical diagnosis in 2013. She began stealing money for medical treatments. The successful thefts became a compulsion she couldn’t escape. She said she was truly sorry and felt the weight of regret and shame. 

Final Submissions

Assistant Crown Attorney Paul Layefsky is seeking a jail term of four years. He asked Justice Horton to order that Ms. Simao pay back Impacto, Station Road Arts and her mother, Ms. Schoner. He also asked for a non-contact order to prevent Ms. Simao from contacting any of her victims.

Ms. Simao already has a criminal record for fraud. In 2001, while employed by Castle Rock Financial in Toronto, she changed the payee to herself on two different cheques totalling $5,200, and deposited them into her personal bank account. She was 21. She received an 18-month suspended sentence and probation.

In light of this previous conviction and her recent guilty pleas, the Crown Attorney asked Justice Horton for a lifetime Criminal Code Order to prohibit any employment involving authority over money, property, or valuable security.

Ms. Simao’s lawyer, Robert Richardson, countered with a suggested two-year sentence and three years’ probation. He noted Ms. Simao had pleaded guilty and that “two years isn’t a slap on the wrist.” He argued the sentence would still send a message of deterrence.

But Justice Horton asked how he could possibly reconcile that statement with Ms. Simao’s actions following her original guilty plea, pointing specifically to the obstruction charge, where Ms. Simao forged yet another letter to get out of appearing in court.

“She was caught, she was released on conditions, and then she still kept doing it,” the Justice said.

In advance of sentencing, Mr. Richardson also asked for a seven-day bail period to allow Ms. Simao to make arrangements for her family, which includes two young children, but the Judge rejected the request. 

Justice Horton will hand down Ms. Simao’s sentence June 15 at 9 a.m.