North Bay man charged in $500K industrial fraud case

A North Bay man has been charged with a $500,000 theft case after an industrial operation northeast of Cochrane flagged items bought through company channels.

A 38-year-old North Bay man faces multiple charges after a lengthy investigation into the alleged theft of about half a million dollars in materials from a large industrial operation northeast of Cochrane.

Ontario Provincial Police began investigating in January 2025, after the company reported suspicious purchasing activity involving a former employee.

“An internal audit revealed that, over a period of approximately two-and-a-half to three years, large quantities of building materials, tools and electrical and plumbing equipment were fraudulently obtained through company purchasing channels and shipped offsite to North Bay for personal use,” the OPP said in a release Wednesday.

A review of purchase orders and shipping documentation led investigators to estimate that the total value of materials diverted from legitimate company operations was approximately $500,000.

Police took the accused into custody on Feb. 17.

The individual has since been charged with four counts of fraud over $5,000 and four counts of theft over $5,000.

The man was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Cochrane on March 24.