3 York U employees accused of $1.6M fraud scheme

Three York University employees are accused of participating in a fraudulent billing scheme that cost the school $1.6 million, Toronto police say.

Police say the alleged fraudulent scheme occurred over a seven-year period from November 2005 to October 2012 when a whistleblower alerted the university.
York said in a statement Thursday that it immediately contacted police and co-operated with police during their investigation.

“We engaged in an external firm to conduct a forensic audit, the findings of which were provided to police,” York University’s lawyer Harriet Lewis said.

“The University successfully engaged in action to recover the monies defrauded, plus costs.”

Det. Gail Regan of the financial crimes unit said Vittoria Caparello, 51, Yossi Zaidfeld, 38, and Melissa Caparello, 27, all of Vaughan, were arrested on Wednesday. But she declined to provide further details about the case.

Vittoria Caparello, who faces two counts of fraud over $5,000, was scheduled to appear at the College Park courthouse on Thursday.

Zaidfeld who faces one count of fraud over $5,000 and Melissa Caparello, who faces possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, are scheduled for a court appearance on April 28.

Regan said the investigation is ongoing and that further arrests are expected.

Anyone with information is asked to call the financial crimes unit at (416) 808.7238 or Crime Stoppers at (416) 222-TIPS.

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