U.S. citizen living in eastern Ontario found using stolen identity of Canadian: RCMP

An RCMP epaulette is seen in Edmonton, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

A 70-year-old U.S. citizen has been sentenced to one year in jail after an investigation determined he assumed the identity of a Canadian citizen while living in eastern Ontario.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Cornwall launched an identity fraud investigation in 2024 after the man was arrested when attempting to re-enter Canada with a false identity.

“The investigation determined that (the suspect) had unlawfully assumed the identity of a Canadian citizen in 2012,” the RCMP said in a media release.

“Between 2008 and 2009, (the suspect)—who was wanted in the State of New Jersey for Failure to Appear—illegally entered Canada. While residing in South Glengarry, Ontario, he obtained the personal information of a living Canadian citizen and used it to impersonate him for personal gain.”

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Police said while using the stolen identity, the suspect later created an additional false identity, “ultimately securing a fraudulent Canadian citizenship certificate, passport, driver’s licence and health card.”

“While attempting to re-enter Canada with a false identity, (the suspect) was arrested by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and turned over to the Cornwall RCMP where he was remanded into custody,” police said.

“All fraudulently obtained identity documents were seized as part of the investigation.”

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RCMP says the man was found guilty on several offences, including obtaining citizenship of another person, identity fraud, forgery or uttering a forged passport, illegal possession of a government document and providing a false statement.

In addition to the one year of incarceration, the man received probation prohibiting him from entering Canada for three years, Mounties said.

“Identity fraud threatens the integrity of our borders and the safety of our communities,” RCMP Insp. Etienne Thauvette said.

“Thanks to the strong collaboration between the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency, we were able to uncover and disrupt a long-running scheme and hold this individual accountable.”