Romantic con artists have been around for many, many years. Now, though, one of those – Jeffrey Paul Kent, 55, has been handed down a prison sentence, with Justice Melanie Haydes Richards in Alberta, finding the man to be a “dangerous offender” who needed to be put away for good.
More Than Two Decades of Offenses for Romantic Con Artist
The story of Kent fascinates the public, but it’s also a grim warning. He has been a highly successful con artist who picked his victims from across Alberta and British Columbia and would convince them that he was a very successful investor who sought to close another lucrative deal.
Oftentimes, though, after securing the victim’s trust, Kent would say that he needed money and was quick to bring a deal to a close and make a killing in the process. Many of his victims would believe him and hand him money.
The exact amount is not known, but Kent is said to have lost $170,000 in total, mostly through his gambling habit. He would also leave the lives of the victims he took money and did not repay. Kent is said to have displayed predatory behavior, using dating websites to scope out potential victims, and then win their trust until such a time that the victims would agree to borrow him money.
However, Kent’s seemingly minor offenses, in contrast to some bigger offenders out there, need more context. He has been running the same scam since the 1990s, seducing women and then making away with their money.
He has also racked up dozens of fraud convictions over time, which has determined the outcome of his most recent court appearance, with justice siding against him and recommending life imprisonment.
Back in April 2022, Kent also pleaded guilty to defrauding five victims. As was his wont, he met the victims on dating websites between 2016 and 2017. Among the many elaborate lies he told his victims was that he was a realtor and investor and that he owned hotels, other properties, and businesses.
Lack of Remorse Seals the Sentence Kent Now Faces
Another contributing factor to Kent’s sentence of life imprisonment was a psychiatric assessment that he had not felt any remorse for his actions and that he exhibited psychopathic traits, including emotional manipulation, pathological lying, and a lack of remorse.
“He is utterly indifferent to the effect of his criminal behavior on his victims and, in some cases, their children. He has been treated for and intellectually understands his criminal behavior. He is at high risk of reoffending by committing a serious personal injury offense,” the justice concluded.