Four Calgarians and one Calgary business are facing fraud and money laundering charges following a three-year investigation from the Calgary Police Service and RCMP.
It’s alleged the offences occurred between September 2013 and December 2014 and targeted financial institutions, private lenders and home owners in amounts exceeding $1 million.
“Fraud is not a victimless crime,” Calgary Police Service Staff Sgt. Kristie Verheul said in a news release. “It can have long lasting implications for victims whose identities or financial information is stolen.”
Charges have been laid against the following people:
- Giovanni Bartolotti, 46, is charged with conspiring to commit the indictable offense of fraud over $5,000 and conspiring to commit the indictable offense of laundering of proceeds of crime, and 14 additional fraud-related criminal code offences.
- Kalim Khan, 41, is charged with conspiring to commit the indictable offense of fraud over $5,000 and conspiring to commit the indictable offense of laundering of proceeds of crime and ten additional fraud-related criminal code offences.
- Linh Tran, 37, is charged with conspiring to commit the indictable offense of fraud over $5,000 and conspiring to commit the indictable offense of laundering of proceeds of crime and 19 additional fraud-related criminal code offences.
- Lindsay Tietz, 31, has been charged with two counts of having in his possession proceeds of crime. A warrant has been issued for his arrest and police are searching for him. Anyone with information on the location of Tietz is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
Bartolotti, Khan, and Tran were released from custody and are expected to make their first court appearance in Calgary Queens Bench court on Aug. 11.
Numbered company 1755569 Alberta Ltd., under the control of Tran, is charged with possessing and transporting money exceeding $5,000 with intent to conceal or convert that property.
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