A former Walmart employee who pleaded guilty to stealing more than $7,000 from the retailer has been sentenced to house arrest, with the judge citing potential deportation consequences if she were given prison time.
Case Details
The 26-year-old woman, who came to Canada from India on a student visa nearly a decade ago, was sentenced by Justice James J. Ogle of the Alberta Court of Justice. She pleaded guilty to one count of theft over $5,000, committed between January and March 2024 at a Walmart in Cochrane, Alberta.
Theft Method
According to an agreed statement of facts, the woman worked as a customer service clerk and stole merchandise on at least 14 occasions over five weeks. She would ring up items using a barcode for individual photo purchases costing 32 cents, then exit the store with a receipt showing the incorrect price. The thefts were carried out alone or with others, including her boyfriend, though no other participants have been charged.
Sentencing Considerations
The maximum penalty for the offense is 10 years imprisonment, with no minimum sentence. The judge noted aggravating factors, including the sophistication of the scheme and the repeated nature of the thefts, which continued until her employment ended. None of the stolen goods, valued at just over $7,000, have been recovered.
Mitigating factors included the woman's lack of prior criminal record, her permanent residency status obtained in 2024, and the potential immigration consequences of a prison sentence. The defense argued for a conditional discharge to avoid a permanent criminal record, citing the risk of deportation.
Justice Ogle took into account the collateral immigration consequences, stating that a prison term could lead to deportation proceedings. As a result, he imposed a house arrest sentence, allowing the woman to remain in Canada while serving her punishment.
The woman has lived in Canada since age 17 on a student visa and has made several trips to India to visit family. She has worked in various retail positions and currently works as warehouse security, a job she reportedly dislikes.
