An Edmonton woman has been sentenced to 12 months in jail after pleading guilty to defrauding a vulnerable client of more than $73,000.
Shum Shabat Yousouf, 35, pleaded guilty to fraud over $5,000 in November 2025. She was sentenced Friday in the Edmonton Court of Justice.
Court heard Yousouf was a program manager and housing worker for Contentment Social Services Foundation (CSSF), a non-profit organization that provided assisted-living services.
Yousouf was listed as an authorized representative on the organization’s corporate registry records, court heard during sentencing.
The victim at the time was a 59-year-old man with a diagnosed mental illness who required assistance with daily living. The man entered into a service agreement with CSSF in April 2022.
Under the agreement, Christopher Domoslai paid $1,450 per month for accommodation, two meals a day, assistance with room cleaning and transportation to medical appointments.
In early 2023, Yousouf began directing him to obtain bank drafts for amounts higher than his contracted monthly fee.
According to the agreed statement of facts, she also set up his online banking and helped him file a password he selected, as he was not capable of navigating online banking platforms on his own.
Later that year, Yousouf gained access to his online banking and began transferring money without his knowledge.
Court heard that between July and December 2023, she sent 61 e-transfers from Domoslai’s account.
Of the 61 e-transfers, 57 were deposited into CSSF’s bank account, totalling $63,445.
Four additional transfers, totalling $3,500, were sent to a personal bank account.
Court heard the organization did not have sufficient funds to sustain its operations when the transfers began.
Yousouf also used the victim’s account to make payments totalling $10,650 to a property management company.
Fraud discovered after victim’s savings depleted
The fraud was discovered in December 2023, when Domoslai’s sister accessed his bank accounts and found only about $5,000 remaining.
Yousouf initially attempted to conceal her involvement, court heard.
She sent correspondence identifying herself as the CEO of the organization and claimed an employee named “Sabrina Smith” was responsible for the transactions.
Court heard that person did not exist.
The victim’s family later learned CSSF had failed to pay his rent, leaving him in arrears and facing eviction.
The family terminated his relationship with the organization in June 2024.
The court heard the fraud left the victim’s life savings almost completely depleted and had a significant impact on him and his family.
On June 24, Domoslai’s sister delivered a victim impact statement.
“He is unable to fully articulate the emotional stress and harm he has suffered,” she told court, describing how the money was not simply a number in his bank account, but represented his safety and protection.
“My brother Chris is a deeply sensitive and caring man,” she said.
She described an “overwhelming sense of relief” when the family first found the organization and said she believed Yousouf had her brother’s best interests at heart.
“This was not a mistake, this was not a misunderstanding, it was deliberate,” she said.
“She saw his vulnerability as an opportunity.”
Judge cites abuse of trust, vulnerability
The sentencing judge said Yousouf had been in a position of trust and that the victim was particularly vulnerable.
The judge also found the prolonged nature of the fraud, the number of transactions, the amount taken and Yousouf’s efforts to conceal her involvement were aggravating factors.
Court also heard Yousouf had no previous criminal record, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse.
She had paid $500 in restitution before being charged and made additional payments during the sentencing process, bringing the total paid to $1,950.
Defence lawyers had asked for a 12-month conditional sentence followed by 18 months of probation.
The judge rejected the conditional sentence, saying denunciation and deterrence were paramount given the abuse of trust and vulnerability of the victim.
Restitution ordered
In addition to the jail sentence, Yousouf was ordered to pay $73,598.99 in restitution by Dec. 1, 2035, through a periodic payment schedule.
She was also ordered to pay $69,295 in lieu of forfeiture by Aug. 21, 2037. Any payments toward restitution will reduce the forfeiture amount.
The judge also imposed a five-year prohibition preventing Yousouf from working or volunteering in positions involving direct or indirect authority over another person’s money, credit or valuable securities unless she first discloses the agreed statement of facts in the case.
She is also prohibited from controlling a corporation or other entity that would give her such authority without making the same disclosure.
