(EMO, ON) – A two year fraud investigation has ended in charges.
On April 29, members of the Ontario Provincial Police in the Rainy River District and the Northwest Region Crime Unit concluded a fraud investigation which began in June of 2018. This investigation uncovered the fraudulent use of over $90,000.00 dollars by an individual associated with a not for profit group in Emo. The fraudulent activity occurred from 2014 until 2018.
Although the OPP has not confirmed the identity of the group, the Emo and District Lions Club announced over Facebook in 2018, that legal counsel and the OPP had become involved after the group discovered discrepancies with its finances at that time.
“Emo and District Lions will defer to the media releases of the OPP until the courts have completed due process,” said Joanne Ogden, immediate past district governor, in an e-mail to the Times. “We greatly appreciate the continued community support for the service projects our club has done and continues to do.”
As a result of this investigation a 47 year old Emo region man has been charged with the following offences contrary to the Criminal Code: Fraud over $5,000 contrary to section 380(1) (a) CC; Theft over $5,000 contrary to section 334(a) CC.; Possession of Property Obtained by Crime over $5,000 contrary to section 354(1) (a) CC; Criminal Breach of Trust contrary to section 336 CC; Obtaining by False Pretence contrary to section 362(1)(a) CC; Forgery contrary to section 366(1) CC; Use, deals, acts on forged document contrary to section 368(1)(a) CC.
The accused will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice on June 22, to answer to the charges.
