A network of loan and grant scammers has been dismantled by Sûreté du Québec (SQ) after lengthy investigations. The accomplices are said to have attempted to defraud the state of more than $3 million by withholding study abroad grants.
Posted 4:07pm Updated 5:33pm
The leader of this network would be Jordyson Telfort, a 28-year-old Boucherville resident. He is accused of fraud against the Quebec government and forging false documents between 2017 and 2021. He also faces charges of assault, assault with a weapon and threatening two men, according to the warrant issued Dec. 5 at the Montreal courthouse.
Eight men and one woman were arrested across Quebec and Ontario on Wednesday by the Surete du Québec Economic Crime Investigation Service. The co-defendants are Bernard Fortin of Pont-Rouge; Jonathan Maurice Koud Ondon from Toronto; Mik Côté from Quebec; Mirabel’s Olivier Marchessault; Levi Londole by LaSalle; Jonathan Lacroix from Sainte Claire; Jacob Telfort of Montreal; Stephanie Casseus from Saint Lambert
According to the SQ thesis, the network had a pyramid model. So the head of the network recruited students, who in turn recruited other students. The latter then applied for state study grants for studying abroad.
However, the student accomplices never stayed abroad and handed over some of the loans and grants they had stolen to the mastermind of the network. The accomplices didn’t know each other, so everything went through the mastermind. There was also a cell in Montreal and another in Quebec. The program was reportedly set up in August 2017.
“The total amount of fraud, including attempts to obtain loans and grants, totals more than $3 million,” the SQ said in a press release. However, the actual amount raised was not disclosed by the police.
The nine defendants are scheduled to appear at the Montreal courthouse on February 1, 2023.
Jordyson Telford, alleged leader of the network, faces charges of fraud and identity fraud in a separate case. Charges were filed in Montreal court in December 2021.