Barb Gallant, the former Summerside city councilor who stole thousands of dollars from a veterans group after being involved in an online romance scam, was sentenced Monday to 90 days in prison.

She was also ordered to pay $10,985.12 in restitution to Lest We Forget, where she was working as a volunteer general manager when she made 58 fraudulent transactions totaling $12,995. She has already repaid $2,000.

Gallant, 60, will serve his sentence on weekends starting December 20.

The defense asked for a suspended sentence of six to nine months, essentially house arrest. The Crown had requested detention of four to six months.

Gallant was also placed on probation for three years. During this period, she must disclose her conviction to any future employers or voluntary organizations with whom she works.

She must also perform 50 hours of community service or pay $10 per hour in lieu of Lest We Forget.

Charged in April

Gallant was charged in April with fraud over $5,000 after accounting irregularities were reported to Lest We Forget’s veterans committee.

In June, she was disqualified from Summerside municipal council for missing three consecutive meetings following the filing of charges.

At his sentencing hearing in November, Gallant apologized to veterans and his community.

The court heard Gallant was a “kind and caring” person who had been the victim of an online scam. Her lawyer, Peter Ghiz, said she was in contact with someone she thought was a retired U.S. Navy captain, who said he was stationed in Syria.

She quickly began sending him money – over a 16-month period – before realizing she had been scammed.

However, Crown prosecutor Chad McQuaid noted that 18 of the fraudulent transactions took place before she began corresponding with the person overseas.