Convicted of defrauding Indigenous youth, B.C. social worker earns full parole

Robert Riley Saunders was a social worker with the Ministry of Children and Family Development in B.C. Photo: APTN file

APTN News: convicted fraudster who stole thousands of dollars from vulnerable Indigenous youth has been granted full parole.

Convicted of misappropriating more than $460,000 in 2022, Robert Riley Saunders was a social worker with the British Columbia Ministry of Children and Family Services who lied about his credentials.

Saunders, 54, was convicted of breach of trust and using a forged degree.

A judge ruled he used his position to take money from difficult-to-house Indigenous youth in care between 2011 and 2018.

According to the full parole decision released on July 5, Saunders “acted as the guardianship worker for over 60 Indigenous children/youth and these youth were commonly designated high-risk. During your offending, you opened joint bank accounts with 24 of the high-risk youth assigned to your care.”

Watch the APTN Investigates episode Broken Trust

The report states that, in most cases, the youth did not have access to the accounts Saunders set up in their names.

The seven-page decision obtained by APTN News provides details on how Saunders defrauded the ministry.

“You issued over 850 Ministry cheques made payable to the 24 youth with whom you held joint bank accounts stating the cheques were for shelter and support payments for youth living outside of foster or group homes,” it said. “None of the funds were provided to these youth. You stole at least $462,385.00.”

Saunders was sentenced to five years in prison for fraud over $5,000 on July 25, 2022. He was granted day parole on Oct. 16, 2023.

Day parole allows inmates out during the day but requires them to return to their prison or halfway house in the evening.

The Parole Board of Canada approved the next step on June 26.

In the decision, the board said its members were satisfied that “Saunders demonstrated the ability to manage his risk to re-offend appropriately during the period he had on day parole.”

The conditions of his parole include not being allowed to have “direct or indirect contact with any child in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development” or contact with employees, former or current, at the ministry or organizations associated with child protection services in B.C.

He will also have to ensure his income and expenses are legitimate and he’s not permitted to hold a position of responsibility over finances, the decision added.

The decision explains how Saunders would approve the cheques himself, pick them up and sign them by either forging the initials of the youth or note that the cheque had been picked up by the youth.

“You then deposited the cheques into the relevant youth joint bank account and then either transferred the funds to your personal account or withdrew the funds in cash,” the decision said.

Saunders was eventually caught when a colleague noticed an error in an application and investigated his activities and discovered the fraudulent behaviour, the decision noted.

Saunders’ lawyer, Bryan Fitzpatrick of Kelowna, did not respond to a request for comment.

Saunders’ full parole began on July 14.