The reference letters for car dealer Darren Bateman are highly supportive, describing him as extremely generous, helping people with money and vehicles, paying for them to see shows or quickly stepping up to buy fundraising auction tickets.

While on its surface that financial benevolence might seem good thing, a Halifax prosecutor pointed this week to a big problem. It came despite the 60-year-old owing more than $1 million in tax fines while also embroiled in a large-scale fraud involving a New…