Caroline Mastantuono

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The publication ban on the fraud case involving the former head of the Lester B. Pearson School Board’s (LBPSB) international department Caroline Mastantuono was lifted last week after she pled guilty to the forgery charges brought against her.

An investigation led by the Quebec anti-corruption unit revealed evidence that the 61-year old former LBPSB employee forged and trafficked forged documents as part of a fraudulent enrolment scheme for international students.

A company owned by a Blainville resident and at least one other former LBPSB employee who are still protected by the publication ban were allegedly involved in the fraudulent scheme headed by Mastantuono.

Over eighty receipts representing a sum of $1,648,281 for 25 students were at the heart of the investigation that revealed that at least 16 of them were not affiliated with the recruitment agency in question. The LBPSB was billed a commission for the recruitment services linked to international students, mainly from India.

The overall processes common in each case related to the scheme involved international students {span}receiving a study permit from Immigration and Citizenship Canada.

When contacted by The Suburban for comments on this case, the LBPSB refused to comment or provide any statements on its position.

Mastantuano’s recuiting firm owned by herself as well as some of her family members entitled Rising Phoenix International is the subject of multiple lawsuits particularly stemming from the private educational sector. She continued to recruit students in the private sector after the LBPSB fired her shortly after the accusations against her made headlines, nearly four years ago. n