Broken promises and lies have led to several fraud charges for a St. Thomas business owner.
The St. Thomas Police Service said the 36-year-old business owner, who has not been named, turned himself in on Wednesday in connection with three incidents of fraud.
The first incident occurred when a contract employee of the business was defrauded over $3,000 after the owner allegedly tried to pay him/her with a cheque written on a closed account.
Another owner of the business was also allegedly defrauded over $2,000 by the accused after being told his money would be used to purchase a transport truck of discounted food for the local food bank, just before Christmas. The accused allegedly cashed the cheque and kept the money knowing the food was never going to be delivered.
The third victim was a private investor who the business owner allegedly tricked into buying a transport truck full of coats and boots at a discounted rate. The goods were to be sold off at a discounted rate, however, when the investor forwarded $7,500 of his money, it was discovered that the investment was a lie and the truck did not exist.
The 36-year-old business owner is now charged with two counts of fraud under $5,000 and one count of fraud over $5,000. He has been released on an undertaking with a future court date.
