Three men charged in an alleged $60 million Ponzi scheme will be appearing in provincial court in Drumheller on April 16.
    The RCMP Calgary Commercial Crime Section have completed an investigation into allegations of investment fraud and money laundering relating to an Alberta registered company HMS Financial Inc. RCMP believe that HMS Financial provided a series of investments that are believed to be part of a Ponzi Scheme running between 2001 to 2004.
    A Ponzi Scheme is an illegal business practice in which new investor money is diverted to pay previous investors. The operators of such a scheme pretend to mount a legitimate business operation but little, if any, commercial activity actually takes place.  Ponzi schemes require a steady stream of money from new investors in order to pay dividends to existing investors. As the Ponzi grows, so does the exponential need for new investor money.  Ultimately the Ponzi collapses under its own weight, as there are no underlying earnings from any economic enterprise.
    RCMP Calgary Commercial Crime Section launched this investigation in 2004 and believe approximately one thousand victims throughout North America invested more than $60 Million US into various alleged fraudulent investment programs offered by HMS Financial.
    According to an RCMP release, investors allege they were promised a return of 8-12 per cent per month.  The investments were purported to be risk free as one of the accused held millions of dollars in bonds that would be liquidated should the investment not pay out.
    Investigators have not been able to identify the existence of any bonds, and believe this high yield investment program was a Ponzi scheme.
    It is alleged that in order to perpetuate the scheme and entice new investors, HMS Financial paid 10 per cent a month every quarter to those investors who chose to accept a quarterly payout of interest.  The payments are believed to have been drawn from funds provided by other HMS clientele. 
    (Harold) Murray Stark, 73, of Three Hills, Robert Fyn AKA Col Robbie Fyn, 62, of Linden and Garth S. Bailey,  57, of Okotoks are to appear in Drumheller. They have all been charged with Fraud over $5,000, and conspiracy to commit fraud.
    The three, as well as Katherine Rodrique Bailey, 53, of Okotoks have been charged with laundering proceeds of crime and conspiracy to launder proceeds of crime.
    Jay O'Neill, communications officer for Alberta Justice said the case is scheduled in Drumheller because the company involved in the charges operated out of Linden, and it falls within Drumheller's jurisdiction.
    Any victims who have not come forward to the RCMP Commercial Crime Section, or anyone who feels they may have information relating to this matter are asked to call 403-699-2581.

    In the Spring of 2004 at the age of 45, Drumheller resident Debbie Herman was diagnosed with breast cancer.
    It all happened very quickly for Debbie following the diagnosis.
    Within 24 hours, she was being prepared for major surgery. This was recommended to her to ensure all the cancerous cells were removed.
    Debbie was given two months to recover from the surgery before starting a course of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.
    “During that time, my mom did a lot of research and opened my eyes to alternative healing, strength rebuilding and the rebuilding of the immune system.  I was given the proverbial wake-up call,  something happens to make you realize you should make some changes.”
    Following her two months recovery, Debbie went to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary to discuss the treatment options available.
    “As I was driving to the cancer centre for my first appointment, it hit me; I have cancer, and it was kind of overwhelming. I had had two months to come to grips with it, but I hadn’t come to terms with it.”
    As she started chemotherapy treatment, Debbie and her family continued to seek out the offerings of alternative health professionals.
    “Alternative therapists look at the possible causes of disease and offer complementary avenues to explore, in the way of therapies and supplements.”
    Finding what Debbie believed to be the best immune system and vitamin supplements, she took a vitamins regimen prepared for her to rebuild her strength during the chemotherapy treatment. 
    She continues to take some of these same supplements today.
    Debbie found the chemotherapy wasn’t as difficult as she had feared, although she started to suffer from fatigue.  Having moved into her parents’ home while recuperating from surgery, she remained there during her treatment, allowing her to concentrate on feeling well and getting better.     
    “I have to tell you that my parents are the most amazing people.  At least one of them was by my side each step of the way, at consultations, the various tests one goes through, the treatments, the questions, the answers.
    I had such positive people and support around me, I honestly have to say I was so fortunate that everything I needed was there, all the tools I needed were always there for me, and any decisions were ultimately mine to make, and I made the decisions I could live with.”
    After her treatment, Debbie was offered radiation and a 5 year drug treatment but decided against it.
    Eighteen months after the initial diagnosis, the cancer was back.
    “This time I did absolutely everything they recommended!”
    Debbie’s first thought when hearing the news was, “I have done a lot of things over and above what was recommended to me to make myself better and keep myself healthy; what did I not do?”
    At this stage, a health professional recommended she work with a life skills coach to deal with the emotional side of life, the emotional side of disease.
    “Life skills coaches look at the current situation you are in and look ahead, not back,” Debbie explains. She found this experience invaluable.
    “To some degree, I am a different person now than I was before I started that work.  In fact, although it is a bit of a cliché, having gone through the cancer experience has also changed me. I discovered things about myself and about relationships with other people, and I am able to respond to things differently...positively.”