Canadian woman found guilty in Mexico

GUADALAJARA, Mexico, April 23 (UPI) -- A Canadian woman held in a Guadalajara, Mexico, jail for more than two years was found guilty of fraud and sentenced to five years in prison.

Brenda Martin, 52, was also fined the equivalent of $3,400 in Tuesday's 109-page ruling, a Canwest News Service correspondent reported.

Martin has made repeated pleas for Canadian consular help in getting back to Canada and has insisted she knew nothing about her ex-boss's fraudulent Internet investment scam. The man is in a U.S. jail and swore in an affidavit she had no role in the scheme other than working as his chef.

After the verdict was announced, Canadian Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day told CTV News by satellite from New Orleans the government was working to get Martin returned to Canada.

"We're ready to move very quickly on this prisoner transfer and to get her home as soon as possible," Day said.

Gar Pardy, Canada's former director of consular affairs, told CTV Martin is unlikely to serve any time in a Canadian prison, since convicts normally serve only one-third of their sentences.