Charles Stephen Howatt of Nova Scotia was sued for unjust enrichment and failure to repay a debt. Investigations yielded accusations of potential fraud. Howatt uses various aliases and may also be known as:
- Charles Phillip Stephen Howatt
- C.P. Stephen Howatt
- Stephen Howatt
- Charles Howatt
- C. Phillip Stephen Howatt
- Stephen Charles Howatt
- Phillip Howatt
Court Orders
On January 30th 2024 Court Orders were granted in connection with a group of borrowers/guarantors failing to repay a debt of approximately $500,000. Charles P. Stephen Howatt and other Nova Scotian residents and companies were alleged in a lawsuit to have made untrue, inaccurate and misleading representations about their business activities and unjustly enriched themselves (Hfx No. 515975 – Supreme Court of Nova Scotia).
The following Nova Scotian residents and companies were included in these Court Orders:
- Michaela Nicole Smith, who subsequently filed for bankruptcy in March 2024
- Anne Elizabeth Latham
- 3292691 Nova Scotia Ltd.
- 3337285 Nova Scotia Ltd.
View the Court Orders here and here.
Additionally, a Court Order was granted against Suzanne Nicole Martin of Paris, Ontario.
Howatt’s Operations
Charles Stephen Howatt is known to have owned or controlled the following businesses in Nova Scotia, including in the Yarmouth, Shelburne County and South Ohio regions:
- 3292691 Nova Scotia Ltd.
- 3337285 Nova Scotia Ltd. (a.k.a. Yarmouth Airsoft and Ground Zero Airsoft)
- Value Convenience Stores Inc.
- Mythic Games and Hobbies
Howatt is also associated with a Nova Scotia business called South Shore Rentals.
Howatt’s former business partner and an alleged victim stated he “looks for weak people with good credit, and destroys them financially and emotionally.”
Attempted Bankruptcy
Howatt filed for bankruptcy in August 2023. However, the trustee of Howatt’s estate opposed the discharge of the debts because “The Bankrupt failed to deliver to the trustee books and records relating to his property and affairs after having received requests from the Trustee [and] The Bankrupt failed to disclose numerous asset dispositions on their Statement of Affairs.“
Additionally, the trustee became “aware of various asset dispositions that were not disclosed on the Bankrupt’s statement of affairs. Many of the Transactions appear to have been between parties not dealing at arm’s length and may be subject to attack under section 96 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.“
Investigations of Howatt
Investigations of Howatt are under way.
In April 2024 a bankruptcy trustee referred his conduct to Canada’s Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy for investigation.
In October 2024 we received information that the RCMP is probing Howatt’s activities.