Romance Scammer Serge Rivard Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison
- Crown prosecutor Simon Boulianne argued before the court that a severe prison term is likely the only method to prevent the defendant from reoffending, noting that previous penitentiary...
- In October 2024, Rivard admitted to defrauding eight individuals, including four women he romanced on dating platforms across 2021 and 2022.
- Defense counsel Vicky Powell asked the court for a single day of additional imprisonment alongside a probation period for her client, according to the Journal de Montréal.
Crown prosecutor Simon Boulianne argued before the court that a severe prison term is likely the only method to prevent the defendant from reoffending, noting that previous penitentiary sentences totaling five years failed to deter him.
Crown Seeks Eight-Year Sentence for Serial Romance Fraudster
In October 2024, Rivard admitted to defrauding eight individuals, including four women he romanced on dating platforms across 2021 and 2022. Prosecutor Simon Boulianne told the court that each victim believed they were living a dream that ultimately turned into a nightmare, pointing to a victim named Caroline Cloutier who was left ruined and living on the street. According to the Journal de Montréal, Rivard used a consistent modus operandi over the years, adopting a false name and wealthy persona, developing rapid attachments, promising millions of dollars, and vanishing before the scam collapsed.
Defense Requests Minimal Additional Prison Time
Defense counsel Vicky Powell asked the court for a single day of additional imprisonment alongside a probation period for her client, according to the Journal de Montréal. The defense requested that the 1,275 days Rivard already spent in pre-trial detention be counted at time-and-a-half, which would establish an overall global sentence equivalent to slightly more than five years. During the hearings, Rivard testified that his detention conditions were difficult due to pests such as mice, rats, and cockroaches at the Bordeaux prison, and added that extensive media coverage—including a book and the documentary series Le prince charmant n’existe pas
—prompted him to seek protective custody.
Dispute Over Remorse and Psychological Insight
The court examined Rivard’s claims of rehabilitation after the defendant testified that he had worked on his criminal behavior by looking up the definitions of words like empathy,
fraud,
and manipulation
in a dictionary. Prosecutor Simon Boulianne rejected those assertions as late remorse, telling the tribunal that no genuine realization had begun and that Rivard was attempting to manipulate the court for a lighter penalty. Rivard also addressed the court directly during the proceedings, stating according to the Journal de Montréal: I thought about the victims, that’s for sure. All the harm I caused the victims.
Judge Stéphane Godri took the case under advisement following the submissions.
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