Man Found Guilty of Stealing From Fiancées Gets 10-Year Sentence

The Broward man convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from two former fiancées was sentenced to 10 years behind bars Thursday.

Paul Francois, 57, was found guilty last month on two counts of grand theft and one count of organized fraud in the scheme that prosecutors said bilked two women out of $400,000.

In court Thursday, Francois made a tearful apology to the victims before the sentence was handed down.

"I'm sorry, I apologize about everything," Francois said, adding that he planned to pay the victims back. "I feel sorry about everything."

Prosecutors said Francois was engaged to Rose Marie Anglade back in 2007, at the same time he was engaged to Shelia Brisault.

After Anglade's engagement to Francois, she sold her New York home for a profit of $280,000, before she moved into a Miramar house with Francois and set up a joint bank account.

Anglade’s $280,000 was supposed to help pay for the Miramar house, but prosecutors said that in a matter of two months, the money was gone, stolen by Francois.

Francois also convinced Brisault to set up a joint bank account under the belief they'd buy a house together, but made off with the money, prosecutors said.

During the trial, Anglade testified how she answered a call one day from a woman who claimed to be Francois’ fiancée. Anglade quipped back that she was Francois’ fiancée, and things went downhill from there.

After court Thursday, a furious Anglade said she didn't believe Francois' apology and said the sentence wasn't enough.

"10 years behind bars, I believe he should have got more than that," she said. "I work all my life for 27 years, I worked hard to get that money. If he really [wants to] apologize, why doesn't he give my money back?"

Francois’ attorney, Frank Negron, claimed there was no theft and that a joint bank account means both people are entitled to access it.

Francois was ordered to pay back both of the women, but Anglade said she doesn't believe he will.