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MONTREAL - About 60 of convicted fraudster Earl Jones' clients have been told they must pay taxes for money many say they never received.
They've been advised they must pay tax on returns from investments the Montreal fraudster managed, but many of the investors say they never touched the earnings that disappeared in the fraud scheme.
Jones, who's serving an 11-year sentence, bilked investors of an estimated $50 million.
Most of the victims say they don't know how they'll pay the tax for income they never received.
Wendy Nellis lost about $1 million and is out of money. Nonetheless, Revenue Quebec has notified her that she must pay $10,000 in taxes for last year and $3,000 for this year.
Nellis doesn't want to pay taxes for what she calls the imaginary investment earnings of 8% that Jones had promised.
Last summer, Christiane Jackson, who owes $30,000 in taxes, contacted both levels of government to try to rectify the situation. Former federal revenue minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn indicated he could use his discretionary powers to offer a financial respite to the fraud victims. Blackburn has since been replaced by Keith Ashfield.
Canada Revenue Agency said it is looking at the files on a case-by-case basis.
The fraud victims are encouraged to call the agency so officials can examine their cases.