Calgary police say the group stole cars, stripped and re-vinned then sold vehicles in Alta., Sask., and BC.
Ikraam Elahi Chaudhary of Saskatoon, Sask., pleaded guilty on March 11 in a Calgary, Alta., court to trafficking in property obtained by crime and trafficking stolen property for the benefit of a criminal organization.
In 2019, after a 22-month investigation, Calgary police laid charges in what they said was an organized crime group responsible for trafficking stolen vehicles. Chaudhary, along with Tyler Roger Scott and Tami Lee Scott, both of Calgary, were arrested. Tyler Scott was the head of the criminal organization that trafficked in stolen and cloned motor vehicles. Chaudhary was one of the members of the criminal organization.
The group “worked together in a sophisticated manner” to get cars from car thieves, strip and re-assign VINs, and then sell the vehicles to buyers in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan, according to police.
The criminal organization that stole and sold 75 vehicles worth approximately $2 million between 2017 and 2018. Chaudhary sold stolen vehicles through his business, Modern Motors located at 406A 45th A St E in Saskatoon, and distributed proceeds, including purchasing real estate in Calgary.
Police intercepted calls linking him to the scheme and recovered stolen vehicles and forged documents. Calgary Police Service intercepted hundreds of phone calls between the accused and other members of the criminal organization showing the accused’s participation in the transportation, sale and distribution of the proceeds from the stolen vehicles.
At Tyler Scott’s direction Chaudhary distributed the proceeds from the sale of the stolen vehicles including to the sister of Tyler Scott. Amongst other things the proceeds were used to purchase real estate in Calgary in the name of a straw buyer. Some of the stolen vehicles were recovered by the police in multiple locations in western Canada and in Seattle, Washington.
Police raid Saskatoon dealership and a home
During a search of Modern Motors and Chaudhary’s residence in Saskatoon in 2019, police recovered re-vinned vehicles, forged VIN stickers, other fraudulent vehicle documents and stolen vehicles. After execution of the search warrants police intercepted a phone call between the accused and Tyler Scott where they discussed creating fake lease documents to support someone else having possession of the stolen vehicles found at Modern Motors.
Accused came from affluent Saskatoon home
According to a pre-sentence report (PSR) for the court, Chaudhary, 41, was born and raised in Saskatoon in a religious home. His parents immigrated from Pakistan about 50 years ago an they are actively involved in the Muslim community. His father owned fast food restaurants and developed real estate and his mother was a stay-at-home mom for several years and then was employed outside the home.
The PSR said Chaudhary didn’t “grow up in poverty.” His sister owns and operates a bus shuttle business for disabled passengers and the accused works as a manager with the company. Before getting a criminal record, Chaudhary was an owner in the company.
Chaudhary has a business management degree. His criminal behaviour escalated after he began drinking heavily in his mid-20s, leading to a criminal record starting in 2018. Since June 2023, he has been sober, completed addiction treatment, and is employed at his sister’s shuttle business. He expressed remorse, took responsibility for his actions, and said he is committed to rehabilitation.
Despite his 14 prior convictions, including impaired driving and failing to comply with court orders, the court considered his progress and imposed a sentence aimed at supporting his continued rehabilitation.
Saskatchewan Health Authority proved a letter to the court dated June 15, 2024, saying Chaudhary has made significant progress in dealing with his alcohol addiction saying “It would be detrimental to his progress if he was to face more incarcerated time.”
Chaudhary told the court that he was thankful to have been given a chance by the courts in Saskatchewan, on charges in Saskatchewan, to be released from custody into treatment and that he hopes he can continue with his efforts at recovery.
Crown sought two-year jail term
The Crown had argued for a two-year jail sentence for Chaudhary, citing his mid-level involvement in a criminal organization, high moral culpability due to a 16-month trafficking period, and aggravating factors such as creating fake documents and engaging in similar criminal conduct post-charge.
The defence, however, proposed 84 days in jail for one offence and a two-year less a day conditional sentence order (CSO) plus probation for another. They emphasized Chaudhary’s extensive pre-sentence rehabilitation, his current stability, and low risk of re-offending, supported by his employment, family support, and participation in rehabilitation programs. Defence argued that a CSO would effectively balance denunciation and deterrence with rehabilitation.
Defence said a CSO can meet sentencing principles, while the Crown said that only actual jail time can achieve denunciation and deterrence.
The judge said an 84-day sentence for the criminal organization offence wouldn’t adequately reflect the seriousness of the offence, Chaudhary’s moral blameworthiness, or the need for deterrence and denunciation.
Criminal organization charge ‘serious’: Judge
“The criminal organization offence under 467.12 is a serious offence,” said Justice Stirling. “It is punishable by a maximum sentence of 14 years. Parliament legislated that a CSO is not available. Notwithstanding the efforts by Mr. Chaudhary at rehabilitation I find a period of incarceration is necessary to reflect the severity of Mr. Chaudhary’s criminal conduct and his high moral blameworthiness. At the same time, the sentence should give significant consideration to his guilty plea, his expression of remorse, and his extensive efforts at rehabilitation and to principles of restraint.”
Chaudhary received a 12-month jail sentence for the criminal organization offence, followed by two years of probation. For the trafficking offence, a four-month consecutive sentence was imposed. Chaudhary was given 84 days credit for pre-trial custody against the total 16-month sentence.
In 2020, Tyler Scott, the leader of the criminal organization, was sentenced to three years on the trafficking and an additional six months on the criminal organization charge.
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