Investigators from Peel Regional Police 11 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Commercial Auto Crime Bureau, in collaboration with Equite Association, have disrupted and dismantled an organized auto theft ring operating in Peel Region, in an investigation dubbed Project Memphis.
Project Memphis began in March 2023 when Peel Regional Police were provided information of a possible re-vinned vehicle. Investigators determined some of the stolen vehicles were being re-vinned, fraudulently re-registered and sold in Mississauga. In some cases, the accused attempted to defraud multiple financial and insurance institutions. Various investigative tools were used to identify multiple suspects, recover these stolen vehicles and prevent insurance fraud.
Project Memphis saw 12 people arrested and 81 charges laid with over $350,000 insurance fraud prevented, and nine stolen vehicles recovered valued at over $1.2 million. The vehicles were: two Range Rover Sports, two Ram 1500s, a Bentley Bentayga, a BMW M5, a BMW X5, a Porsche Panamera, and a Jeep Wrangler
“Project Memphis was a complex and multi-faceted investigation that required incredible investigative efforts,” said Chief Nishan Duraiappah. “The success of this investigation was a testament to effective collaboration and the shared goal of disrupting criminality of all kind.”
Tristan Serrano, 26, from Mississauga, with nine counts each of trafficking in stolen goods, fraud over $5,000, fraudulent concealment, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, possession of counterfeit mark and conspiracy to commit.
Joshua Cunanan, 24, from Mississauga is charged with nine counts each of trafficking in stolen goods, fraud over $5,000, five counts of forgery/utter forged document, and conspiracy to commit.
Franc Martin Cruz, 23, from Mississauga is charged with trafficking in stolen goods and fraud over $5,000.
Destiny Ogieva, 25, from Mississauga is charged with trafficking in stolen goods, fraud over $5,000, fraudulent concealment, and conspiracy to commit.
Rahul Bedi, 25, from Mississauga, is charged with trafficking in stolen goods and fraud over $5,000.
Andrew Enriquez, 26, from Mississauga is charged with trafficking in stolen goods and fraud over $5,000.
Martin Suyat, 26, from Mississauga, is charged with trafficking in stolen goods, fraud over $5,000, and conspiracy to commit.
Angelyne Suyat Pavalaraj, 32, from Toronto is charged with trafficking in stolen goods, fraud over $5,000, and conspiracy to commit.
Krista Mcintyre, 29, from Mississauga is charged with trafficking in stolen goods, fraud over $5,000, and conspiracy to commit.
John Ruivivar, 24, from Mississauga, is charged with trafficking in stolen goods and fraud over $5,000.
Mahmoud Chehadeh, 36, from Hamilton is charged with frafficking in stolen goods, fraud over $5,000, and fraudulent concealment.
Sear Azeem, 24, from Brampton, is charged with trafficking in stolen goods and fraud over $5,000.
All of the accused were released with conditions and will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.
This this investigation was a joint effort between the Peel Regional Police Commercial Auto Crime Unit, CBSA Intelligence, Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), Equite Association, Durham Regional Police and Woodstock Police.
Anyone with any information about this incident can contact investigators at the 11 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-453–2121, extension 1133. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.
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