Man who promised B.C. hockey team $7.5M fined for fraud

A B.C. man who promised to donate millions to a junior hockey team in Kimberley, B.C., but never delivered the money was convicted of fraud for a separate issue on Thursday.

Mike Gould, who claimed to be a European lottery winner and pledged $7.5 million to thelocal team, was sentenced for using two cheques in someone else's name last October and forging the signatures on them.

He attempted to use the cheques to pay $8,000 for a dinner banquet he threw at a Cranbrookrestaurant to celebrate his donation announcement.

There wereinsufficient funds in the accounts and the fraudulentchequesbounced.

Gould later paid most of the bill in cash, but has been ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and complete 60 hours of community service for the fraud.

"Once you do this, once you commit the fraud, it can't be undone," said Crown CounselKristianDeJong. "It's a fit sentencing."

The second charge offorgery was stayed.

With files from Bob Keating.