BREAKING NEWS: Earl Jones could be on the street by April

By Kevin Woodhouse
www.thesuburban.com

Although the federal government changed the law for minimal sentencing of white collar criminals in 2011, West Island fraudulent businessman Earl Jones had been sentenced the year before and the Quebec Superior Court ruled that forcing Jones to spend more time behind bars was a violation of his rights.

“He did serve an extra 20-22 months,” Joey Davis, Earl Jones Victims Committee member told The Suburban. “But because of time served and good behaviour, Jones is part of the accelerated parole review and faces a hearing on March 3rd.”

Davis noted that no victims are present at the closed door meeting and because of Jones’ comportment behind bars, he could be free as soon as late March or early April.

“The news of Jones being released was inevitable but I thought he would spend time in a half way house at least instead of just being on parole,” said Davis.

Because the more than 100 victims have different feelings towards the entire Ponzi scheme experience, their loss of savings, subsequent court battles and eventual partial restitution for some, Davis was unsure how victims would react once Jones is released. “Some might show up while others just want to wash their hands of the last few years and move on,” said Davis.

Jones had previously served a third of his sentence and was eligible for parole but did not request a hearing last October.

Davis wondered if Jones will return to his old ways or move back to the West Island. “He wrecked so many lives that I could not imagine what could happen if a victim bumped into him on the street. You wonder where and how he will live?”

Kevin Curran, another member of the EJVC, is concerned that Jones will simply live on federal and provincial pension cheques when “Jones and his wife, who was on the books as an employee, never worked an honest day in their lives. They would be receiving a pension that they paid into with stolen money.”