One of two people facing fraud and money laundering charges in an alleged lottery scheme has turned themselves in to the Grande Prairie RCMP. Police say they identified two people as suspects in a case of a senior being defrauded for $200,000 reported to High River RCMP in June.
A Canada-wide warrant was issued for Albertan 23-year-old Romeo Junior Spence and 21-year-old Dwayne-An Aliyah Johnson of Edmonton. Johnson was arrested at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on June 21st, where he was reportedly trying to travel from Jamaica to Edmonton. Days after Johnson’s arrest, mounties say Spence turned himself into the Grande Prairie detachment.
Both are facing charges related to fraud, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and laundering proceeds of crime. Spence is scheduled to appear in Okotoks Provincial Court on July 21st and Johnson is scheduled for July 28th.
Police say this was a joint investigation involving the RCMP Federal Policing Integrated Money Laundering Investigative Team and High River RCMP.
“This investigation is a reminder to all that scammers will go to any length to defraud Canadians and they often involve organized crime groups operating outside our borders,” says Operations Officer, Federal Serious and Organized Crime Financial Integrity for Calgary Inspector Stephen Reid.