Image: Facebook/Royal Canadian Mounted Police

In the early days of October 2023, the Victoria County District RCMP received a distressing report from a local resident regarding an alleged case of fraud. According to official sources, a man operating a construction venture by the name of “Blue Skye Trucking” had apparently defrauded a woman of nearly $10,000.

The victim, who resides along Hwy. 5 in Big Bras D’Or, had hired the accused to construct a garage on her property. To secure this construction project, the victim initially paid a substantial deposit of $13,000.

Regrettably, it appears that the man failed to fulfill his obligations. Despite having received a significant upfront payment, he neither initiated the construction work nor placed orders for the necessary materials, leaving the project in a state of limbo. It is noted that the individual did make a partial reimbursement of approximately $3,500; however, the outstanding balance of the substantial deposit remained unpaid.

The accused in this case, identified as Bryton Bernard, a 23-year-old resident of Eskasoni, has been formally charged with “Fraud over $5,000.” Legal proceedings are scheduled to take place in Wagmatcook Provincial Court on January 3, 2024, with the hearing set for 9:30 a.m.