5 charged in alleged Ontario small business COVID-19 relief fraud
Posted July 17, 2023 12:16 pm.
Last Updated July 17, 2023 1:50 pm.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have charged five people for allegedly defrauding the province using false COVID-19 relief funds.
In the fall of 2020, the provincial government began rolling out small business relief programs to assist local businesses with operating costs and loss of revenue due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and closures.
Investigators say the suspects used fake or ineligible businesses to get deposits from “The Ontario Small Business Support Grant,” “The Property Tax Program,” and “The Energy Cost Rebate Program.”
A police spokesperson said the accused parties are alleged to have applied for various relief funding through “fictitious or ineligible businesses” to receive payments into their bank accounts.
Four people from Ajax, Ont., and one from Ottawa face several charges, including fraud of over $5,000.
They were identified as Keisha Campbell, 39, of Ajax, Ont., Jaheem Carnegie, 21, of Ajax, Ont., Michael Patrick, 47, of Ajax, Ont., Amber Robinson, 21, of Ajax, Ont., and Kevin Lee, 50, of Ottawa.
Investigators said Lee was released and has failed to attend court on multiple scheduled appearance dates, and, as a result, a bench warrant was issued for the Ottawa resident’s arrest.
The accused parties from Ajax, Ont. have been released and are expected to appear in court in Oshawa, Ont., on August 10, 2023.
The Serious Fraud Office has charged five people for receiving small business relief funds through fraudulent means. It relates to small business relief programs to assist businesses impacted by COVID-19 closures. Four people from Ajax and one from Ottawa have court dates. pic.twitter.com/JVFVbCAxaB
— Ontario Provincial Police (@OPP_News) July 17, 2023
