A network of loan and bursary fraudsters has been dismantled by the Sûreté du Québec after a lengthy investigation. The accomplices allegedly attempted to defraud the state of more than three million dollars through a scheme to embezzle financial aid for studies abroad.
The head of this network would be Jordyson Telfort, a 28-year-old resident of Boucherville. He faces charges of fraud against the Government of Quebec and forging false documents between 2017 and 2021. He is also charged with assault, assault with a weapon and threats against two men , according to the arrest warrant issued on December 5 at the Montreal courthouse.
Eight men and one woman were arrested Wednesday across Quebec and Ontario by the Economic Crimes Investigation Service of the Sûreté du Québec. The co-accused are Bernard Fortin of Pont-Rouge, Jonathan Maurice Koud Ondon of Toronto, Mik Côté of Quebec, Olivier Marchessault of Mirabel, Lévi Londole of Lasalle, Jonathan Lacroix of Sainte-Claire, Jacob Telfort of Montreal and Stéphanie Casseus of Saint-Lambert
According to the SQ thesis, the network had a pyramid model. Thus, the leader of the network recruited students, who then recruited other students. The latter then applied for state financial aid programs to pursue studies abroad.
However, the student accomplices never stayed abroad and passed on part of the loans and scholarships fraudulently obtained to the mastermind behind the network. The accomplices did not know each other, since everything went through the leading head. There was also a cell in Montreal and another in Quebec. They allegedly started this scheme in August 2017.
“The total amount of fraud, including attempts to obtain loans and bursaries, amounts to more than three million dollars,” said the SQ in a press release. The amount actually defrauded, however, was not specified by the police.
The nine accused are due to appear on 1er February 2023 at the Montreal courthouse.
The alleged mastermind, Jordyson Telford, is charged with fraud and identity fraud in a separate case. Charges filed in December 2021 at the Montreal courthouse.