A notorious Alberta romance scammer is fighting back against a landmark court decision that declared him a dangerous offender, a rare designation that could keep him behind bars indefinitely. Wesley Sinclair, 49, who has been convicted of defrauding dozens of women across Canada of more than $2 million over two decades, has launched an appeal claiming the punishment exceeds the severity of his crimes.
Sinclair’s lawyer, Miranda Thompson, filed appeal documents last week with the Alberta Court of Appeal, arguing that her client’s actions, while harmful, do not meet the threshold for the dangerous offender designation typically reserved for violent criminals and sexual predators.
“The dangerous offender status has traditionally been applied to individuals who pose a physical threat to society,” Thompson told CO24 News. “My client’s offenses, while serious, were financial in nature. This ruling represents an unprecedented expansion of the designation.”
Sinclair’s elaborate schemes followed a consistent pattern. He would establish romantic relationships with women through dating sites, social media, and even in-person encounters at upscale venues. After gaining their trust over months of courtship, he would manufacture emergencies requiring immediate financial assistance—business investments gone wrong, medical emergencies for non-existent family members, or legal troubles that needed to be resolved quietly.
Crown prosecutor Daniel Robertson defended the original ruling, pointing to the psychological devastation left in Sinclair’s wake. “This isn’t just about money. Many victims lost their life savings, homes, and suffered severe psychological trauma. Three attempted suicide after discovering his deception,” Robertson said. “The repetitive nature of his crimes and complete absence of remorse justified the designation.”
Court records reveal Sinclair has been convicted of fraud-related offenses seven times since 2002, serving multiple prison terms. Each time upon release, he would resume his predatory behavior within weeks, often targeting women while still on parole.
The controversial ruling, handed down by Justice Mariana Chen in April, marked the first time in Canadian legal history that a non-violent fraudster received the dangerous offender designation. Justice Chen cited Sinclair’s “pathological lying, complete lack of empathy, and high likelihood of reoffending” as justification for the extraordinary measure.
Legal experts remain divided on the case’s implications for Canadian justice. Professor Eleanor Watts from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law believes the case could set a significant precedent.
“This ruling potentially opens the door for courts to apply the dangerous offender designation more broadly to include individuals who cause severe psychological and financial harm,” Watts explained. “The question becomes where we draw the line between conventional sentences and indefinite imprisonment.”
Victim advocates have praised the original decision. Jennifer Arlow, who heads a support group for romance scam survivors, expressed concern about the appeal. “These aren’t simply financial crimes. These are calculated psychological attacks that destroy lives. Many victims never fully recover their emotional well-being or financial stability,” she told CO24.
The Alberta Court of Appeal is expected to hear the case in early 2024. The outcome could reshape how the justice system handles serial fraudsters who cause significant psychological harm to their victims.
As our society becomes increasingly connected through digital platforms, how do we balance appropriate punishment for non-violent offenders against the profound psychological damage their actions can inflict on vulnerable victims?
