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A former Vancouver notary who was convicted of running a $110-million Ponzi scheme has been sentenced to six years in prison.

In his decision Wednesday, Provincial Court Judge Gregory Rideout also ordered Rashida Samji, 63, to pay more than $10 million in restitution to her victims.

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Samji, who was convicted of 28 counts of fraud and theft, faced sentencing on the fraud charges after the judge ordered a stay of proceedings on the theft counts.

The judge said the aggravating factors included that the fraud exceeded millions of dollars, had the effect of potentially destabilizing capital markets and involved a large number of victims.

“It was aggravating and frankly startling that Samji would take advantage of immediate family and close friends to promote her Ponzi scheme.

“It was clear that she exercised a wanton disregard of the risks that loomed large for the complainants. They have suffered significant financial, emotional and physical harm arising from the scheme.”