Deal in the works for Pigeon King Arlan Galbraith?

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Assistant crown attorney Lynn Robinson wants to meet with those who have filed complaints in the Pigeon King case.

Laurie Black Rooney, a worker with the Kitchener victim/witness assistance program, says the meeting will take place at 2:00 p.m. June 16, at the Central Mennonite Committee, 50 Kent Avenue, Kitchener.

It is open to anyone who has provided a police statement in connection with charges brought against Arlan Galbraith who police allege ran a Ponzi scheme based on pigeon breeding.

Black Rooney says the assistant crown attorney will provide updates and “possible resolution.” Conference call arrangements will be available for those who are not able to attend the meeting in person. For further information, contact Black Rooney at 519-741-3300x2278.

Galbraith, who once boasted that his Waterloo business, Pigeon King International had “a perfect track record for almost eight years now for buying pigeons under contract, paying for them – in full,” was charged in December with one count of fraud over $5,000 (section 380.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada), which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. Galbrath was also charged with four counts under sections 198 (2) and 199 (b) of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Maximum penalties for these charges are $10,000 fine and/or three years imprisonment and $5,000 fine and/or one year imprisonment, respectively.  

Galbraith has not been convicted of any criminal charges.

His business was declared bankrupt in 2008.

He is currently released on bail but there is a publication ban on details of his release. His last known address is near Cochrane, Ont.

Police have estimated about 1,000 people invested a total of $20 million in his scheme. Waterloo Regional Police and RCMP each devoted two officers to the two-year investigation that led to Galbraith’s arrest.

Galbraith’s next scheduled court date in Kitchener is August 24. BF