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Pigeon King Guilty

Thursday, 5 December 2013 15:07

Arlan Galbraith found guilty of fraud in pigeon ponzi scheme

After two full days of deliberations, the jury has come down with a guilty verdict in the Pigeon King trial.

66-year-old Arlan Galbraith, the former owner of Pigeon King International has been found guilty of fraud and bankruptcy act charges.

That stems from $20-million in losses sustained by farmers in Canada and the US, who bought pigeons from Galbraith.

The pigeon breeding operation folded in 2008 after it was determined there was no end market for the birds that were being produced.

Galbraith insisted during the trial, through representing himself, that he had plans to open a pigeon processing facility in northern Ontario to turn the thousands of birds into meat.

But in the end, pigeon breeders, including some in Oxford County, were left with coops full of pigeons with little to no value.

Some were killed, and others sold for a few dollars.

Farmers originally purchased the pigeons from Galbraith for up to $500 a pair under contracts to sell the offspring back to Galbraith.

But with no end buyer for the thousands of birds being produced, that made the business a ponzi scheme.

Galbraith was arrested, and taken to jail.  He'll be back in court for sentencing December 12th.

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