Regina Fraudster Ordered to Begin Prison Term After Decade-Long Legal Saga
Alena Marie Pastuch, a 60-year-old Regina woman who confessed to stealing nearly $5 million from investors, has been ordered to turn herself in to authorities by this Friday to commence a two-year prison sentence. The directive came from Court of King's Bench Justice Catherine Dawson during Tuesday's sentencing proceedings, marking the culmination of a complex legal battle that has stretched over more than a decade.
Substantial Financial Crimes and Judicial Sentencing
Pastuch admitted to defrauding private and corporate investors of $4,940,218 between April 1, 2006, and January 1, 2013. Despite her request for 28 days to arrange her affairs, including care for her elderly mother, Justice Dawson granted only until the end of the work week for surrender to Regina police. The judge emphasized the severity of the crimes, describing Pastuch's actions as a betrayal that placed victims in a dreadful position.
Her actions have caused permanent harm, Dawson stated during the sentencing. In many respects, this sentence can never be enough to address the loss suffered by the victims.
Legal Proceedings and Restitution Challenges
The sentencing followed Dawson's dismissal of a motion filed by Pastuch in December 2025, which sought to declare previous court proceedings—including her guilty plea and a September 2024 joint sentencing submission—as legally invalid. The judge ultimately accepted the joint submission from the Crown and Pastuch's former lawyer, which recommended a sentence of three years and six months. After accounting for time served on remand, previous sentence fulfillment, and her extended period on bail, the net result was a two-year going-forward prison term.
Justice Dawson's detailed decision highlighted how Pastuch utilized much of the stolen funds to sustain her personal lifestyle. Notably, some investors were family members, and many were of retirement age or elderly. One couple testified to losing over $1.2 million after selling their farm and investing with Pastuch, expressing feelings of shock, shame, and embarrassment alongside their financial devastation.
While the court ordered Pastuch to pay restitution, Dawson acknowledged that full repayment to the victims is unlikely, given the magnitude of the theft.
Background of the Case and Previous Convictions
This sentencing concludes a protracted legal saga that began with Pastuch's initial charges in 2014. With no prior criminal record, she was convicted of fraud following a 2019 trial where she represented herself after parting ways with multiple lawyers. Pastuch appealed the conviction, leading Saskatchewan's highest court to order a new trial on the grounds that she should not have been required to act as her own counsel.
The case underscores significant issues within the justice system regarding self-representation and the lengthy timelines often associated with complex financial crimes. As Pastuch prepares to surrender, the focus remains on the profound impact on victims and the challenges of achieving adequate restitution in such high-value fraud cases.
