Six years in jail for businessman turned bank robber
Posted: November 23, 2009, 6:03 PM by Rob Roberts
By Steph Davidson, National Post
A "mild-mannered" Toronto investment-firm staffer who robbed banks to feed a gambling addiction was sentenced to six years in jail today.
Kevin Pinto, 37, former compliance officer for Paradigm Capital, robbed 10 banks around southern Ontario between December, 2003, and October, 2008.
Mr. Pinto was dubbed "the exchange bandit," because he would ask the tellers about exchange rates before handing them a note demanding money. He began his spree in Toronto and Peel region in 2003, before expanding west to St. Catharines and Kitchener in 2004. After a two-year hiatus, he robbed banks in Toronto, Oakville and Cambridge. He was suspected of up to 21 robberies, but only charged with 10 counts.
Mr. Pinto turned himself in Oct. 2, 2008, after police publicized surveillance footage, and subsequently pled guilty. Mr. Pinto had no prior criminal record.
Today, he was escorted into court in handcuffs, meekly entering the prisoner's box to hear the judge read his fate. He looked slightly scared.
Court heard he is a "kind-hearted family man" who is seeking counselling for his addiction. Calvin Barry, Mr. Pinto's lawyer, said he's never seen someone less likely to have done such crimes. "He's a very mild-mannered gentleman."
Though some of his notes to tellers suggested he was armed during the robberies, he was not.
Mr. Pinto was sentenced to six years, with his pre-trial time served counting two-for-one. There was some dispute as to the total number of days Mr. Pinto already served, but it was decided that he will spend over three years and nine months longer in jail.
Mr. Barry said Mr. Pinto is genuinely remorseful and has expressed interest in teaching people of the "slippery slope" of gambling, which he said was no different than an addiction to heroin or alcohol.
Mr. Pinto, who earned over $100,000 a year, came away with more than $33,000 to support his gambling habit from the robberies.
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/11/23/six-years-in-jail-for-businessman-turned-bank-robber.aspx
Calvin Barry is a Toronto-based criminal lawyer with over 16 years experience as a senior crown attorney at Calvin Barry Professional Corporation - Criminal Lawyers. Calvin Barry Lawyer Toronto has practiced in the area of Criminal Law and Regulatory Offenses since October of 2004, accruing over 30 years experience in criminal law.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Calvin Barry Defends Exchange Bandit
‘Exchange bandit’ who robbed banks – including those in Waterloo Region – on lunch hours gets 6 years
By John Goddard, Toronto Star
A Bay Street financier who robbed banks in a wide-ranging area – including Kitchener and Cambridge – on his lunch hour was sentenced Monday to six years in jail.
Calling bank robbery a serious crime that “cries out for denunciation and deterrents,” Justice Sheila Ray rejected a defence recommendation that Kevin Pinto, 38, walk free after 13 months in custody.
Although Pinto went unarmed and never wore a mask, he robbed 10 banks in Kitchener, Cambridge, Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton starting in 2002 and lacks empathy for the trauma he caused others, the judge said.
Dubbed the “exchange bandit,” Pinto earned his nickname because his modus operandi was to walk into a bank, ask the teller the exchange rate on the U.S. dollar and then deliver a holdup note, which sometimes said he had a gun and warned, “Don’t do anything stupid.”
Pinto arrived in the Ontario Court of Justice at Old City Hall on Monday with his hands cuffed behind his back.
Wearing a charcoal business suit and blue dress shirt, sitting alone in the prisoner’s dock, he appeared nervous as the judge began her remarks. His eyes flitted up and down. He occasionally swallowed hard. His shoulders appeared to twitch now and then.
Minus time served, Pinto’s sentence works out to three years and four months.
A financial compliance officer for the investment firm Paradigm Capital, Pinto turned himself in October 2008 after the Canadian Bankers Association posted a $10,000 reward for his capture and Toronto police released surveillance video and photos of him committing the robberies, which all occurred between 10:45 a.m. and 1:55 p.m.
He pleaded guilty to 10 counts of robbery in September.
Born in Bahrain, Pinto immigrated to Canada in 1987, when he was 16. He studied psychology and sociology at the University of Western Ontario, where his addiction first took hold while betting on sports, court heard during his sentencing hearing.
By age 25, he was gambling about $1,000 a day. His compulsive gambling addiction maxed out his credit cards and left him more than $100,000 in debt, according to his lawyer, Calvin Barry.
Pinto’s first heist was on Jan. 2, 2002, in Mississauga where he walked out with $4,500 stuffed in an envelope. He later robbed banks in Brampton, Kitchener, Cambridge, Oakville and downtown Toronto. The amounts ranged from $255 to $9,600, adding up to over $33,000.
At Paradigm Capital, he was responsible for providing oversight and ensuring the firm’s trading activities complied with regulatory requirements. He also previously worked at National Bank.
The robberies occurred over a six-year period, from 2002 until September 2008, but stopped for about two years, between 2004 and 2006, while he was married. His marriage eventually fell apart as a result of Pinto’s compulsive gambling, court heard.
At his sentencing hearing, Barry called his client a “man of faith,” and a devoted member of St. Michael’s Church. He spoke of Pinto’s stellar employment history, his lack of criminal record and his guilty plea as mitigating factors in his sentence.
Barry also read several letters of support from Pinto’s family, and reiterated his client’s stated desire to seek treatment for his addiction.
Barry said Pinto needed therapy, not additional incarceration. Crown attorney Louise MacNaughton argued that the seriousness of Pinto’s crimes merited a tougher sentence.
“While he does have a gambling addiction, he is indeed a master manipulator,” she said.
With files from Brendan Kennedy
http://news.therecord.com/printArticle/633620
By John Goddard, Toronto Star
A Bay Street financier who robbed banks in a wide-ranging area – including Kitchener and Cambridge – on his lunch hour was sentenced Monday to six years in jail.
Calling bank robbery a serious crime that “cries out for denunciation and deterrents,” Justice Sheila Ray rejected a defence recommendation that Kevin Pinto, 38, walk free after 13 months in custody.
Although Pinto went unarmed and never wore a mask, he robbed 10 banks in Kitchener, Cambridge, Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton starting in 2002 and lacks empathy for the trauma he caused others, the judge said.
Dubbed the “exchange bandit,” Pinto earned his nickname because his modus operandi was to walk into a bank, ask the teller the exchange rate on the U.S. dollar and then deliver a holdup note, which sometimes said he had a gun and warned, “Don’t do anything stupid.”
Pinto arrived in the Ontario Court of Justice at Old City Hall on Monday with his hands cuffed behind his back.
Wearing a charcoal business suit and blue dress shirt, sitting alone in the prisoner’s dock, he appeared nervous as the judge began her remarks. His eyes flitted up and down. He occasionally swallowed hard. His shoulders appeared to twitch now and then.
Minus time served, Pinto’s sentence works out to three years and four months.
A financial compliance officer for the investment firm Paradigm Capital, Pinto turned himself in October 2008 after the Canadian Bankers Association posted a $10,000 reward for his capture and Toronto police released surveillance video and photos of him committing the robberies, which all occurred between 10:45 a.m. and 1:55 p.m.
He pleaded guilty to 10 counts of robbery in September.
Born in Bahrain, Pinto immigrated to Canada in 1987, when he was 16. He studied psychology and sociology at the University of Western Ontario, where his addiction first took hold while betting on sports, court heard during his sentencing hearing.
By age 25, he was gambling about $1,000 a day. His compulsive gambling addiction maxed out his credit cards and left him more than $100,000 in debt, according to his lawyer, Calvin Barry.
Pinto’s first heist was on Jan. 2, 2002, in Mississauga where he walked out with $4,500 stuffed in an envelope. He later robbed banks in Brampton, Kitchener, Cambridge, Oakville and downtown Toronto. The amounts ranged from $255 to $9,600, adding up to over $33,000.
At Paradigm Capital, he was responsible for providing oversight and ensuring the firm’s trading activities complied with regulatory requirements. He also previously worked at National Bank.
The robberies occurred over a six-year period, from 2002 until September 2008, but stopped for about two years, between 2004 and 2006, while he was married. His marriage eventually fell apart as a result of Pinto’s compulsive gambling, court heard.
At his sentencing hearing, Barry called his client a “man of faith,” and a devoted member of St. Michael’s Church. He spoke of Pinto’s stellar employment history, his lack of criminal record and his guilty plea as mitigating factors in his sentence.
Barry also read several letters of support from Pinto’s family, and reiterated his client’s stated desire to seek treatment for his addiction.
Barry said Pinto needed therapy, not additional incarceration. Crown attorney Louise MacNaughton argued that the seriousness of Pinto’s crimes merited a tougher sentence.
“While he does have a gambling addiction, he is indeed a master manipulator,” she said.
With files from Brendan Kennedy
http://news.therecord.com/printArticle/633620
Monday, November 9, 2009
CALVIN BARRY DEFENCE LAWYER
Monday, November 9, 2009
Fraud charge dropped
By KEVIN CONNOR
The owner of a Toronto tow-truck company who has a multi-million dollar contract with the police department had fraud charges against him dropped as the result of a polygraph test.
John Long, owner of Downtown Towing, was awarded a towing contract last year with the Toronto Police Services but only had insurance papers for 19 of 21 trucks included in his preliminary bid for the contract.
"It has been a long, long road for me," Long said yesterday.
The Crown dropped the charges against Long, who passed a polygraph "with flying colours," said defence lawyer Calvin Barry.
"He had no knowledge that the two trucks had documentation problems. You can't keep on top of everything. You have to put trust in the people you employ. He had the other trucks good to go," Barry said.
"Mr. Long has no prior criminal convictions and for the final tender all the trucks had documentation ... He has been exonerated."
Barry added he didn't know how the investigation was started against his client.
"It is hard to quantify how all this has affected his business, but since the allegations are behind him, business will go back to the way it was," Barry said. Long had two of his trucks set ablaze.
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/11/04/11627011-sun.html
Fraud charge dropped
By KEVIN CONNOR
The owner of a Toronto tow-truck company who has a multi-million dollar contract with the police department had fraud charges against him dropped as the result of a polygraph test.
John Long, owner of Downtown Towing, was awarded a towing contract last year with the Toronto Police Services but only had insurance papers for 19 of 21 trucks included in his preliminary bid for the contract.
"It has been a long, long road for me," Long said yesterday.
The Crown dropped the charges against Long, who passed a polygraph "with flying colours," said defence lawyer Calvin Barry.
"He had no knowledge that the two trucks had documentation problems. You can't keep on top of everything. You have to put trust in the people you employ. He had the other trucks good to go," Barry said.
"Mr. Long has no prior criminal convictions and for the final tender all the trucks had documentation ... He has been exonerated."
Barry added he didn't know how the investigation was started against his client.
"It is hard to quantify how all this has affected his business, but since the allegations are behind him, business will go back to the way it was," Barry said. Long had two of his trucks set ablaze.
http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/11/04/11627011-sun.html
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Calvin Barry
Back to I need help, exchange bandit saysI need help, exchange bandit says
October 13, 2009
BRENDAN KENNEDY
Kevin John Pinto, seen in a courtroom sketch on Sept. 16, 2009, would ask about the American exchange rate before demanding money from bank tellers.
ALEX TAVSHUNSKY FOR THE TORONTO STAR
The bank thief known as the "exchange bandit" told a sentencing hearing Tuesday he was "truly sorry" for the series of robberies he committed over a six-year period, and that he is determined to use his time in prison to seek treatment for the gambling addiction that fuelled his crimes.
"I look forward to spending this time working on myself," said Kevin John Pinto, dressed in a dark, pinstriped suit with blue, canvas sneakers.
Pinto, 38, a former financial compliance officer with investment firm Paradigm Capital, pleaded guilty last month to 10 counts of robbery. He turned himself in last October after the Canadian Bankers Association posted a $10,000 reward for his capture and Toronto police released surveillance video of the so-called "exchange bandit." Pinto acquired the nickname because he would first ask the teller about the rate of the American dollar before producing a holdup note.
Pinto's compulsive gambling addiction maxed out his credit cards and left him more than $100,000 in debt, according to his lawyer, Calvin Barry.
At Tuesday's sentencing hearing, Barry said he and Crown prosecutor Louise MacNaughton were "very close" to a joint submission for an appropriate penalty.
Barry is seeking a five-year prison sentence, including two-for-one credit for the one year and 11 days Pinto has served in pre-trial custody. MacNaughton argued for five years, plus pre-trial custody.
Barry noted Pinto's "stellar" employment record, "genuine remorse," lack of previous criminal record and willingness to seek treatment for his gambling addiction as mitigating factors in his sentencing. He also read excerpts from letters of support from Pinto's family.
"He was doing the right thing, but for this sickness," Barry said, referring to Pinto's addiction.
MacNaughton argued that the seriousness of Pinto's crimes merit a tougher sentence.
"While he does have a gambling addiction, he is indeed a master manipulator."
Pinto's first heist was on Jan. 2, 2002, in Mississauga where he walked out with $4,500 stuffed in an envelope. He later ripped off banks in Brampton, Kitchener, Cambridge, Oakville and downtown Toronto.
The amounts ranged from $255 to $9,600, adding up to over $33,000.
His modus operandi never changed: Pinto, who never wore a mask, presented a holdup note to the teller that sometimes said he had a gun and warned: "Don't do anything stupid."
The judge postponed her decision until Oct. 19 at 10 a.m.
http://www.thestar.com/printarticle/709404
ALEX TAVSHUNSKY FOR THE TORONTO STAR
The bank thief known as the "exchange bandit" told a sentencing hearing Tuesday he was "truly sorry" for the series of robberies he committed over a six-year period, and that he is determined to use his time in prison to seek treatment for the gambling addiction that fuelled his crimes.
"I look forward to spending this time working on myself," said Kevin John Pinto, dressed in a dark, pinstriped suit with blue, canvas sneakers.
Pinto, 38, a former financial compliance officer with investment firm Paradigm Capital, pleaded guilty last month to 10 counts of robbery. He turned himself in last October after the Canadian Bankers Association posted a $10,000 reward for his capture and Toronto police released surveillance video of the so-called "exchange bandit." Pinto acquired the nickname because he would first ask the teller about the rate of the American dollar before producing a holdup note.
Pinto's compulsive gambling addiction maxed out his credit cards and left him more than $100,000 in debt, according to his lawyer, Calvin Barry.
At Tuesday's sentencing hearing, Barry said he and Crown prosecutor Louise MacNaughton were "very close" to a joint submission for an appropriate penalty.
Barry is seeking a five-year prison sentence, including two-for-one credit for the one year and 11 days Pinto has served in pre-trial custody. MacNaughton argued for five years, plus pre-trial custody.
Barry noted Pinto's "stellar" employment record, "genuine remorse," lack of previous criminal record and willingness to seek treatment for his gambling addiction as mitigating factors in his sentencing. He also read excerpts from letters of support from Pinto's family.
"He was doing the right thing, but for this sickness," Barry said, referring to Pinto's addiction.
MacNaughton argued that the seriousness of Pinto's crimes merit a tougher sentence.
"While he does have a gambling addiction, he is indeed a master manipulator."
Pinto's first heist was on Jan. 2, 2002, in Mississauga where he walked out with $4,500 stuffed in an envelope. He later ripped off banks in Brampton, Kitchener, Cambridge, Oakville and downtown Toronto.
The amounts ranged from $255 to $9,600, adding up to over $33,000.
His modus operandi never changed: Pinto, who never wore a mask, presented a holdup note to the teller that sometimes said he had a gun and warned: "Don't do anything stupid."
The judge postponed her decision until Oct. 19 at 10 a.m.
http://www.thestar.com/printarticle/709404
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)