Two men have been charged with fraud related offences after police executed search warrants on the Acadian Peninsula.
On December 19, 2017, police executed search warrants at seven locations in Bertrand, Notre-Dame-des-Érables, Rocheville, Paquetville, Petit-Paquetville and Rang-Saint-Georges as part of a joint investigation into frauds in New Brunswick and Quebec. The investigation began in October 2017, led by the Northeast District RCMP Crime Reduction Unit, and also included the Bathurst Police Force, BNPP Regional Police Force and Sûreté du Quebec.
The warrants were executed as part of an investigation into acts of fraud carried out at several businesses in Quebec and on the Acadian Peninsula in 2017. Merchants were targeted by people making large purchases, claiming to be on behalf of friends or relatives. Once the merchandise had been picked up or delivered, the businesses learned the purchases had been made with stolen credit card information.
During the execution of the search warrants, police seized several firearms, computers, cellphones, food products, appliances, building supplies, construction materials and tools. A total of five men were arrested following the searches.
On December 20, 2017, 30-year-old Jason Duguay of Bertrand appeared in Tracadie Provincial Court and was charged with unauthorized use of credit card data. A second man, 38-year-old Patrice Landry of Petit-Paquetville also appeared in Tracadie Provincial Court on December 20 and was charged with fraud. Both men have been remanded in custody pending a court appearance in Tracadie on December 22, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.
A 50-year-old man from Paquetville, a 46-year-old man from Notre-Dame-des-Érables and a 42-year-old man from Rang-Saint-Georges were arrested and released pending court dates in April and May 2018.
The investigation is ongoing.