'Romancing plumber' sentenced to 18 months in jail for $560K in fraud

An Iraqi refugee convicted of defrauding victims of more than $560,000 was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in jail, and three years probation.

Faris Namrud, known as the "romancing plumber," pleaded guilty in November to fivecounts of of fraud over $5,000.

Judge Joseph Galati ordered Namrud to undergo counselling, and barred him from using aliases, issuing cheques, or operating any business.

He also ordered Namrud to repay his victims the more than half million dollars they're owed, "in the unlikely event he wins the lottery."

The full sentence was 32 months, but the judge gave Namrud 14 months credit for time already served.

Iraqi refugee Faris Namrud, who often poses as an Italian under the name Franco Nemro Loranzo, has already served jail time for romancing victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in the past. (CBC)

A Vancouver woman who lost $86,000 to Namrud is disappointed he won't be serving more time.

"Given his history and his character I think he'll just be right back at business as usual and defrauding people again," said Kasandra Harfield.

"The whole reason I came forward in the first place was to try and prevent that."

Last year, CBC Investigates exposed Namrud's long history of fraud, and the accusation he ripped off Harfield.

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'Romancing plumber' sentenced to 18 months in jail for $560K in fraud