Photo: Richmond News Four men have been charged in connection with an alleged fraud scheme committed throughout BC The Richmond RCMP Financial Crime Unit (ECU) has conducted research over the past 18 months in several cities, including Richmond, Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, Cranbrook, Kamloops, Kelowna and Regina. Their investigation resulted in the execution of multiple search warrants at sites allegedly linked to the Richmond and Vancouver fraud ring. The Prosecutor’s Office of P.K. approved a total of 24 charges, including fraud, forgery, possession of property acquired through crime and illegal possession of firearms against one of the accused. Four men were charged Those who are charged are:
Christopher Birkbeck, from Surrey. Michael Ridley, from Ontario; Richard Yeltatzie, of Richmond; Ayron Borovic, from Vancouver.
Yeltatzie has also been charged with eight counts of fraud, including fraud, in another Richmond file.
This dossier relates to February 2020, when the Richmond ECU team investigated where a home was allegedly sold by fraudulent means, without the knowledge of the homeowner. In this case, the Prosecutor’s Office of P.K. approved eight charges against Geltajie and three against one Kieran Geltajie. “I’m extremely proud of the hard work and dedication shown by investigators from our Financial Crimes Unit throughout this investigation,” said Richmond RCMP’s Insp. Michael Cohee. “I would also like to thank all the units from the Richmond Quote as well as the Lower Continental Emergency Response Team that assisted our Economic Crime Unit at various times during the investigation. “The identification and subsequent accusations against this group have led to a significant disruption of an extensive network of fraud, identity theft and property crime operating in BC.”
