Two York Region residents have been charged in a fraud investigation related to hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of fake invoices, police say.
The OPP and the Serious Fraud Office for Ontario have charged two Vaughan residents following a joint investigation with the FBI and FINTRAC (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada).
The investigation was related to a fraudulent invoicing scheme at the Canadian subsidiary of an American construction services company, the OPP said in a news release.
Beginning in February 2020, the investigation focused on invoices created for work that was neither requested nor completed, police say.
The suspects received money from cheques that were created to pay the false invoices, resulting in losses of more than $300,000 Canadian, police allege.
A former accountant from the construction services company has been charged by U.S. authorities, the OPP said.
Two York Region residents have been charged with offences contrary to the Criminal Code.
Peter Lavorato, 47, of Woodbridge, is charged with three counts of fraud over $5,000.
Giovanni Imbesi, 47, of Woodbridge is charged with one count of fraud over $5,000.
The accused have been released from custody and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Hamilton on Jan. 26.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and the accused are considered innocent unless proven guilty.
