Walter Garrick, the Oakville man found guilty of bilking more than $250,000 from two famed Toronto Argonauts, a doctor and a child actor, has lost an appeal to have his convictions overturned.

In a decision released Friday, the Court of Appeal for Ontario dismissed Garrick’s application to toss out four convictions of fraud over $5,000. He was originally sentenced to serve 12 months in jail last year.

He was also ordered to pay $172,000 in restitution to three of his victims (the fourth was compensated in a separate civil suit).

In March 2013, Ontario Superior Court Justice David McCombs ruled Garrick defrauded four men out of $251,000 in a “sophisticated and calculated” scheme that lasted more than three years. Garrick, who represented himself at his judge-only trial, was accused of posing as a well-connected Ivy League businessman to lure cash from would-be investors, which he spent on cars, clothes and other personal expenses.

Among those the court deemed to be Garrick’s victims were former Argos quarterback Damon Allen and running back Mike “Pinball” Clemons, who were defrauded out of $45,000 and $57,000 respectively. Sick Kids specialist Dr. Rahim Valani was fleeced out of $90,000, while Ken Vadas—who appeared alongside Tim Allen in the 1994 film The Santa Clause — lost $70,000.

Garrick based his appeal on alleged mistreatment upon his arrest, claiming the investigating officer “trumped up” his charges, subjected him to an illegal strip search and made sure he was detained alongside dangerous offenders, according to Friday’s appeal decision. Garrick also alleged the trial judge unfairly discounted evidence from his father, who appeared as a defence witness.

The appeal court agreed with the trial judge and deemed his handling of the case to be worthy.

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