clill
Aug 7th, 08, 07:50 AM
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CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
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A man has been arrested in British Columbia and charged with
fraud, as part of a two-year investigation.
Last week, Kurtis Eugene POMERLEAU, of Kelowna, B.C., was
arrested and charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000 and
two counts of theft over $5,000.
The Calgary Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police conducted a two-year investigation related to a series
of Internet frauds, in which victims in the United States and
Sweden were defrauded of hundreds of thousands of dollars
through Internet auctions for vintage automobiles.
The investigation indicates these Internet frauds may have
been part of a larger scheme involving additional culprits,
where victims were lured into bidding on Internet auction
sites for vintage automobiles. Victims would then send their
money, usually in the tens of thousands of dollars, by wire
transfer to bank accounts held in Calgary. The victims would
either fail to receive a purchased vehicle or received a
vehicle that was not the same as the item purchased. The
money that was received from victims into holding company
bank accounts was then directed elsewhere.
In April 2008, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police executed
several search warrants in Vernon and Kelowna, B.C., as a
part of this investigation. At that time, RCMP arrested two
other individuals, both of whom were charged with several
counts of fraud and theft.
POMERLEAU is currently before the courts in Kelowna, for
several other charges of Internet fraud stemming from May
2007. He had been released on his own recognizance at the
time these current charges were laid.
The Calgary Police Service Commercial Crime Unit is
continuing to investigate this matter and additional criminal
charges may be forthcoming. Calgary police and the RCMP
continue to examine additional leads as part of a joint
effort to combat Internet crime.
RELEASED BY THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS/MEDIA RELATIONS UNIT FOR CST.
DEAN NICHOL, CPS COMMERCIAL CRIME UNIT.
CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A man has been arrested in British Columbia and charged with
fraud, as part of a two-year investigation.
Last week, Kurtis Eugene POMERLEAU, of Kelowna, B.C., was
arrested and charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000 and
two counts of theft over $5,000.
The Calgary Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police conducted a two-year investigation related to a series
of Internet frauds, in which victims in the United States and
Sweden were defrauded of hundreds of thousands of dollars
through Internet auctions for vintage automobiles.
The investigation indicates these Internet frauds may have
been part of a larger scheme involving additional culprits,
where victims were lured into bidding on Internet auction
sites for vintage automobiles. Victims would then send their
money, usually in the tens of thousands of dollars, by wire
transfer to bank accounts held in Calgary. The victims would
either fail to receive a purchased vehicle or received a
vehicle that was not the same as the item purchased. The
money that was received from victims into holding company
bank accounts was then directed elsewhere.
In April 2008, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police executed
several search warrants in Vernon and Kelowna, B.C., as a
part of this investigation. At that time, RCMP arrested two
other individuals, both of whom were charged with several
counts of fraud and theft.
POMERLEAU is currently before the courts in Kelowna, for
several other charges of Internet fraud stemming from May
2007. He had been released on his own recognizance at the
time these current charges were laid.
The Calgary Police Service Commercial Crime Unit is
continuing to investigate this matter and additional criminal
charges may be forthcoming. Calgary police and the RCMP
continue to examine additional leads as part of a joint
effort to combat Internet crime.
RELEASED BY THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS/MEDIA RELATIONS UNIT FOR CST.
DEAN NICHOL, CPS COMMERCIAL CRIME UNIT.