01-30-07, 10:56 AM
|
 | Administrator | | | |
Vancouver Police Nab Alleged Fraud Mastermind - Stefan Dimitrov Stefanov | |
Quote: | Vancouver Police Nab Alleged Fraud Mastermind
Matthew Ramsey, CanWest News Service; Vancouver Province
Published: Sunday, January 28, 2007 Article tools
Printer friendly
E-mail
Font: * * * * VANCOUVER -- The alleged mastermind of a multimillion dollar credit card fraud scam is behind bars - for now.
Stefan Dimitrov Stefanov has a bail hearing in Port Coquitlam Provincial Court in B.C. on Jan. 31.
He faces five charges of fraud, though police have said additional charges are likely as the investigation progresses.
Vancouver police had a warrant for the 38-year-old's arrest in relation to his alleged role in a credit and gift card manufacturing operation uncovered when police raided Stefanov's upscale Coquitlam home in early-January.
Along with 1,400 bogus cards (with a combined credit limit of $7-$10 million), police allegedly seized piles of stolen mail containing sensitive financial information, more than $24,000 in cash, master postal keys and huge quantities of expensive consumer goods, allegedly purchased with the fake cards. Also seized was an exceptionally rare Honda motorcycle that investigators say was stolen from Las Vegas and imported into Canada illegally.
The charges against him list five individuals and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Richmond, B.C., as victims. Charge information documents say Stefanov "did by deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means" defraud the five victims between July 1 and Nov. 20 of 2006.
Financial and court records reported by The Province showed that Stefanov was on probation for a previous crime when he allegedly embarked on the frauds and that he bought a $120,000 Mercedes just a few months after the earlier conviction.
Police expect that Stefanov will eventually be charged with a raft of other criminal offences, including theft of credit card data and possession of stolen property.
Charges are also expected against three other individuals believed to be associated with the accused.
Crown counsel Mark Canofari is handling the prosecution. Canofari, who was junior counsel in the Air India bombing trial, works in the criminal appeals and special prosecutions branch where he is known for his expertise in commercial crime cases.
David Crossin QC is representing Stefanov. Crossin is a well-known B.C. lawyer who represented Ripudaman Singh Malik during the Air India trial.
Crown spokesman Stan Lowe said although Stefanov was arrested as the result of a Vancouver police investigation, guidelines used in the approval of charges made the Port Coquitlam court house the appropriate venue for a possible trial.
mramsey@png.canwest.com
Vancouver Province
http://www.canada.com/cityguides/win...906c29&k=31608
| |
Linear Mode
