According to a police spokeswoman, a fifth individual who was the target of an arrest warrant for the entire province of Alberta in connection with a concerted ATM scam in casinos in western Canada is still at large.
The 28-year-old Hisham Ismaeel was accused of possessing property acquired via criminal activity and fraud exceeding $5,000.
Ismaeel, an Alberta citizen, was charged with a concerted ATM fraud in western Canadian casinos, along with four other individuals, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Federal Policing Northwest Region.
Suspicious activity at casino-based ATMs around the Edmonton region was unraveled by the RCMP. Large cash withdrawals were allegedly made by those charged as part of a planned plot to avoid detection. A net financial loss of almost $1 million was caused by high-value withdrawals and fraud against financial institutions.
Interruptions to ATM Service
ATMs around Western Canada experienced service interruptions as a result of such withdrawals.
When the RCMP executed six search warrants in Edmonton, they found evidence of money laundering and fraud as well as a significant amount of cocaine.
Last week, Hassan Jaafar Haydar Ahmad (37), Dennis Jones (42), Elliot Miao (42), and Van Bau Ta (39), all of Edmonton, made an appearance at the Alberta Court of Justice in Edmonton.
Money Laundering Charges
“This investigation demonstrates how effective collaboration between public and private agencies can play a vital role in investigating the evolving financial crime landscape,” RCMP Federal Policing Northwest region said in a statement.
Ta was charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, and money laundering; Ahmad was charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, and money laundering; Miao was charged with possession of a classified substance for trafficking; and Jones was charged with fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.
The Edmonton Police Service, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis, and a number of financial institutions also made contributions to the inquiry.
Edmonton Casinos Impacted
“AGLC casino policies mandate stringent surveillance requirements, which contributed to early detection of the suspicious behavior occurring and involvement of the RCMP,” said an AGLC spokesperson, adding that the agency is “committed to prevent, detect, and deter money laundering and terrorist financing activities in the gaming sector, both land-based and online.”
The Edmonton casinos were not particularly named in the RCMP statement. The AGLC website states that there are seven casinos in the Edmonton region.