Curtis Quigley, a man accused of operating a $7.8 million Ponzi scheme, has drowned in the Okanagan River, British Columbia, just months before his criminal trial was set to begin in Edmonton. Quigley, 56, and his former common-law partner, Kathleen Treadgold, were facing 80 counts of fraud over $5,000 in connection to an alleged 12-year scam that targeted hundreds of victims across Alberta, B.C., the U.S., and Australia.
The B.C. Coroners Service is currently investigating Quigley’s death, which occurred on June 20 near Okanagan Falls, a small community about 60 kilometers south of Kelowna. According to witnesses, Quigley had been walking two dogs along a trail by the river when the dogs jumped into the water to chase a deer. Quigley attempted to save the animals but got caught in a dam-like structure and drowned. Despite rescue attempts by local firefighters and paramedics, he could not be revived.
Quigley had been out on bail since August 2023 after turning himself in to Edmonton police. He and Treadgold were accused of luring investors into a real estate scheme, falsely promising profits from house flips in the Edmonton area. More than 80 individuals and businesses were named as victims in the case.
With Quigley’s death, charges against him will likely be stayed once his death is officially confirmed. However, Treadgold still faces trial, and it remains unclear how Quigley’s passing will affect the case against her.
Quigley had been declared bankrupt by a B.C. judge in 2021 after failing to repay $1.6 million to one of his victims. His and Treadgold’s trial was scheduled to begin in January 2025, but with his death, the legal focus now shifts to Treadgold, whose charges remain active.
