It was an emotional day in the courtroom March 11 as a Sudbury woman was sentenced for defrauding a local business of more than $712,000. Deborah Lepage, 63, is the former controller at Sudbury Kia. She was sentenced to two years less a day in prison and three years of probation for her thefts, which she attributed to a gambling addiction. The Crown read victim impact statements from the dealership’s owner and general manager, describing Lepage’s seven-year scheme as “cruel and calculated.” Painful betrayal The betrayal was especially painful because it came from someone they considered a friend. The court heard that Lepage’s life was turned upside down in 2014 after her husband’s heart attack left him unable to work. By 2016, she had developed a severe gambling addiction, spending up to $2,000 a night at Delta Bingo. Lepage broke down in tears as she expressed remorse for the people she hurt. As part of her probation, Lepage is required to get help to address her gambling addiction.
