After an extensive investigation conducted by the St. John’s RCMP Commercial Crime Section over several years, relating to the bankruptcy of Hickman Equipment( 1985) Ltd. in March 2002, four people, who held different positions at the company, have been charged with several criminal code offences.
The RCMP released the names in a news release today. They are Hubert Hunt, general manager, William Parsons, vice-president of sales, Gary Hillyard, chief financial officer and John King, sales manager.
Each person is charged with the following offences:
• 16 counts of fraud over $5,000, Section 380(1) (a) Criminal Code of Canada;
• One count of conspiracy to commit fraud over $5,000, Section 465(1) (c) Criminal Code of Canada;
• One count of falsification of books and documents, Section 397(1) (a) Criminal Code of Canada;
• One count of false prospectus to defraud, Section 400(1) (b) Criminal Code of Canada.
Hunt and Parsons are each charged with an additional count of false prospectus to induce a person to advance money, Section 400 (1) (c) (i) Criminal Code of Canada.
Hickman Equipment (1985) Limited was a John Deere heavy duty equipment dealership in the province. The head office was located at 1269 Topsail Rd., Mount Pearl, with several locations throughout the province.
The bankruptcy in March 2002 totalled approximately $113 million . Hickman Equipment (1985) Limited was one of the Hickman Group of Cos. owned by the Hickman family.
The four men are scheduled to make a first appearance in provincial court in St. John’s on Dec. 4.
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