25°c Partly cloudy
18°c Cloudy periods
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Compulsive gambler sentenced for cheque fraud
A convicted Winnipeg con artist has been sentenced to three years in prison following his latest brush with the law.
James Cotton, 35, told court Tuesday he once saw himself as the "second coming" of Frank Abagnale Jr., the notorious U.S. fraudster who was the basis for the movie Catch Me If You Can.
Related Items
-
Articles
He pleaded guilty to several charges of fraud and possession of stolen goods in which he pocketed more than $22,000 of other people’s money in 2009 and 2010. He must repay the stolen cash as part of his sentence.
Cotton was working as the treasurer of Gamblers Anonymous in Winnipeg when he began a cheque-kiting scam that saw him write numerous cheques out to himself, his former wife and even his grandmother. At the same time, Cotton came into possession of 20 stolen cheques that had been written out to various local residents by government agencies. Cotton forged his signature on them and deposited them in his own account.
Cotton said Tuesday he was trying to live a glamorous lifestyle while also battling addiction issues and a gambling problem.
He described a troubled upbringing on a Manitoba farm which included losing his mother to mental illness, being raised by an abusive father and grandfather, exposure to chemicals and being bullied repeatedly at school. There have also been his own struggles with depression which had him ready to jump off a city bridge just a couple years ago.
Cotton says he also began acting out in "manic" ways which included giving thousands of dollars away to strangers and politicians and destroying his own marriage and relationship with a young daughter.
Cotton has a troubling history with the legal system. In 2010, he was fined $40,000 and given two years of probation after pleading guilty to income tax evasion. Court heard that Cotton set up a website called "stormysurf.ca" and told investors they could make 150 per cent returns on their investment within 10 days. He used the proceeds from the website to build a swanky home in Matlock and paid more than $90,000 for two new vehicles, but never declared income from his web business. The Canada Revenue Agency was tipped off to Cotton’s Internet money-making venture by the RCMP.
Cotton also has several prior convictions for fraud, theft and uttering forged documents from the late 1990s.
History
Updated on Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at 3:49 PM CDT: corrects typo
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 33 articles for today)
Forest fire situation unpredictable, premier says
7:04 PM 0Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger insists it’s too early and unpredictable to be optimistic about forest fire season in the province ...
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- City-wide average mosquito count drops
- Mountie hospitalized, dog euthanized after crash near Saskatoon
- Committee wants report on free replacement for garbage, recycling carts
- Pallister continues PST fight
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- Winnipeg man given 2-year sentence for coma-inducing 'sucker punch'
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Game-day planning a must
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- No mad dash for concessions
- Kenyan wins Manitoba Marathon
- Traffic heavy as Bomber fans flock to U of M
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- UPDATE: Now with FAQ: Keeping the e-party going without the party-crashers
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Daycare provider charged with abandonment
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- At 55, I'm wise to what's real in life
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Strong may they run: Manitobans reflect on that fateful day in Boston
- Mountie hospitalized, dog euthanized after crash near Saskatoon
- Bible Belt's bogeyman still haunts town
- City-wide average mosquito count drops
- Killer 'should stay in prison'
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Doctors blamed for death
- App could give Winnipeggers chance to report bad parking, get paid
- $110-K worth of nickel plates stolen from Thompson mine
- A day in the life of 13,380 Manitoba Marathon participants
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Bomber fans wowed by new stadium
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Teachers support adding sexual-orientation themes to all curricula
- The crime fighter's revolution
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- Fishing for fashion
- City's first urban reserve born
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.