Warrants issued in connection with identity theft ring, credit card fraud

Items seized during the execution of search warrants during an investigation into identity theft and credit card fraud

Members of the Calgary Police Service have arrested one man and continue to search for three additional suspects, including an American and a man from Montreal, in connection with high-end purchases made with fraudulently obtained credit cards.

According to police, the suspects are believed to have used the information available on the credit card histories of the victims to apply for bank accounts and credit cards.

The suspects then redirected Canada Post mail from the victim’s homes to a post office box to ensure they would receive the ill-gained cards. The credit cards were then used to purchase high-end goods including electronics and vehicle parts.

“We have 35 people that have been identified as victims of identity theft,” said Staff Sergeant Kristie Verheul of the Calgary Police Service. “From what my investigators tell me, that number is definitely going to grow.”

“On the other side of it, the credit card fraud, it’s the banks and the credit card companies that are actually the victims.”

Following an investigation lasting nearly two months, search warrants were executed on:

During the searches, officers located and seized:

Police have arrested 32-year-old Francis Mbuya of Calgary in connection with the investigation.

Mbuya faces charges of:

Arrest warrants have been issued for three additional suspects including:

“The three individuals, Seguin, Charles and Mesadieux, all originate from the Montreal area and are all known to each other,” said Verheul. “The fourth individual, Mbuya,  seems to be somebody that’s operating a separate cell doing the same type of crime.”

Police have released photos of Mesadieux and Seguin. Anyone with information about the current location of the any of the suspects or the identity theft ring is asked to contact the Calgary Police Service, 403-266-1234, or Crime Stoppers.