$500Gs cargo redirection scheme, identity fraud leads to charges
Article content
Toronto Police are looking for a cache of stolen goods believed to be hidden in public storage lockers in the GTA.
In August, police started an investigation, dubbed Project Groundhog, into a cargo redirection scheme involving gold, jewelry and electronics.
Recommended Videos
tap here to see other videos from our team.
$500Gs cargo redirection scheme, identity fraud leads to charges Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Commercial shipping accounts were hacked and goods redirected from the intended location, Det.-Sgt. Ian Nichol, of the financial crimes unit, said Monday.
Police allege a man also conducted an identity theft scheme by applying for and obtaining credit cards using identities of innocent victims. The cards were ordered to the victims’ addresses, then redirected to addresses controlled by him, police said.
“There were $500,000 in losses in a three-month period,” he said. “It’s quite usual to start an investigation and find you are dealing with much more.”
There are at least 38 victims, which Nichol said “may be the tip of the iceberg.”
On Oct. 24, police conducted a search warrant at a Yorkville condo as well as a residence at Finch Ave. and Hwy. 400.
A $36,000 watch, 25 forged Canadian certificates of citizenship, 28 credit cards obtained by identity theft, 26 pages of identity information, and cash were allegedly seized.
Officers also located a large ring of keys believed to be for storage lockers.
“We are hoping people in the industry will come forward and advise us of locations used by the suspect,” Nichol said.
Jerahmel Selvyn Wilson, 28, of Toronto, faces numerous charges including personation with intent, five counts of theft over $5,000, possessing forged documents, and possessing credit cards obtained by crime.
Wilson is believed to also go by the name Jason Stanley, as well as 28 other aliases.
Police say he would have used third parties for assistance.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-7306 or Crime Stoppers at 416-223-TIPS.
ALLEGED ALIASES USED BY WILSON
– Bryan Gaensler
– Martin Marshall
– Edward Hall
– Paul Brown
– Vernon Neil
– Ian Russell
– Tim Lillak
– Burdell Coatham
– David Bell
– Jonathan Wiseman
– Nicole Lapkin
– Alexis Patterson
– Jenny Koniuk
– Marcus Feltrin
– Leslie Brown (male)
– Kevin Waters
– Kenneth Bond
– Allison Smith
– Robert Levy
– Louis Kaplan
– Wayne Fair
– Daniel Richard
– Bruce Dawson
– David Jackson
– Trent Rusland
– David Periera
– Brian Bennett
– Fredrick Smith
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.