Twice-convicted Calgary fraudster Scott Brooks sentenced to 10 years in prison

A twice-convicted Calgary fraudster has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a campaign of fraud that prosecutors called "cold-blooded" and "pathological."

Scott Brooks, 52, pleaded guilty mid-trial to 17 offences including fraud over $5,000 and several forgery-related charges. He admitted to taking more than $1 million from six victims between 2010 and 2018 through elaborate schemes involving fake oil and gas deals.

In one scheme, Brooks convinced a retired couple to hand over their life savings of $800,000 by claiming to have invented an innovative flange for the oil and gas industry worth more than $6 million. The couple ended up living in their daughter's basement. In another, he forged email signatures and correspondence with a local lawyer to convince a victim to transfer $200,000, falsely claiming involvement in a multi-million dollar deal with ConocoPhillips.

Justice Robert Armstrong sided with prosecutors in rejecting the defence's request for a five- to six-year sentence. The judge noted Brooks has "a longstanding pattern of dishonesty and criminal conduct" dating back to a previous five-year sentence in 2001 for substantially similar fraud and impersonation offences. Armstrong said the consequences of his crimes were "catastrophic" to his victims, whose losses "must be meaningfully acknowledged."

Brooks directed victims to transfer money into accounts held in the names of his wife and underage son. More than $500,000 was sent to the teenage account holder.

Beyond the prison term, Brooks has been ordered to pay $924,000 in restitution over the next eight years, with an additional five-year sentence imposed should he default. The judge also declined to grant the typical enhanced credit for time served, citing Brooks' deliberate efforts to delay court proceedings—including intentionally overdosing on his heart medication in 2025, which required hospitalization.