Robert Riley Sanders The prison sentence given to Robert Riley Sanders was not long enough “given the trauma he caused his victims”. That’s according to the First Nations Leadership Council after Sanders was sentenced to five years in prison for defrauding more than $460,000 meant for dozens of at-risk youth while posing as a social worker employed by the Department of Children and Family Development. “Robert Riley Sanders’ despicable behavior deserves a punishment commensurate with the seriousness of his crimes,” said Cheryl Kashmir, political officer for the Summit of First Nations. “Five years in prison is simply not enough for the 13 very serious criminal charges in this heinous crime committed against our most vulnerable First Nations children and youth. “We are relieved that he is going to serve, however we are very concerned that this sentence is not long enough given the life-long trauma he caused his victims.” The leadership council, which is made up of political leaders from various First Nation groups, further stated that Sanders would never be able to escape the social worker guise for a decade. “If MCFD required social workers to register with the independent BC College of Social Workers, could Sanders have been committing these crimes for over a decade?” asked BCAFN Regional Chief Terry Teegee. “First it was stealing from our children, now it’s stealing from our children, enough! Additionally, there is an urgent need to change laws and policies in BC so that First Nations youth are with kinship and family, and not in group homes, hotels and at the mercy of those who exploit them for their own benefit.”
