Accused Montreal fraudster's wife wants divorce

The wife of alleged Montreal fraudster Earl Jones is filing for divorce in a move that has worried some former clients of the disgraced financial adviser.

Maxine Pamela Heayberd filed divorce papers in a Montreal court this week.

Her husband is awaiting trial on four counts each of fraud and theft after being accused of bilking more than 100 clients out of some $50 million in a Ponzi investment scheme.

It's not clear what assets Heayberd, a former employee of her husband's company, intends to seek in the eventual divorce settlement.

But any of her claims could eat away at what little might be left from the defunct company, which sought protection from creditors after Jones was arrested this summer.

That possibility is a major concern for Ginnie Nelles, a former Jones client, who says her family lost more than $1 million.

"It's not Maxine's money. She didn't earn this money. She didn't work for this money," Nelles told CBC News. "It's not Earl's money. It's nobody's money except for the creditors."

Earl Jones has also filed for personal bankruptcy.

Trustees working on his case have found both Earl and Maxine routinely drew on company accounts for personal expenses totalling millions of dollars.

In general, Quebec couples seeking divorce split assets 50/50.

Many of Jones's alleged victims have banded together to demand tougher laws on white-collar crime.