Three people are facing more than 350 criminal code charges and were arrested on more than 50 outstanding warrants related to frauds involving rentals and stolen identification throughout southern Alberta.
Fake identities were used for rental applications, both on residences and storage lockers, which were paid for using fake credit cards and stolen cheques.
On Jan. 11, a search warrant was executed on a residence in the 600 block of Panora Way N.W. Three people were arrested there. Inside the residence, equipment indicative of an operational fraudulent identification and credit card lab was located, including credit card scanners, an embosser, computers, printers and numerous pieces of identification believed to be stolen.
The investigation also determined the Panora residence had been rented by falsifying the application. The investigation continued and additional charges were laid as a result of the evidence seized from the Panora Way residence.
Bridget Ann Aamot, 37, is charged with 165 new offences, including fraud-related charges and 86 counts of failing to comply with the conditions of undertakings. She was released from custody by the courts and will next appear in court on Feb. 8.
Duane Douglas Phillips, 48, is charged with 74 fraud-related offences and will next appear in court on Feb. 8.
Mandy Betty Adeline Bredlaw, 38, is charged with 113 offences, including fraud-related charges and two counts of breach of a conditional sentence order. Bredlaw was released from custody and will next appear in court on Feb. 27.
The investigation began in 2022 when officers uncovered a fraudulent document manufacturing lab containing credit card embossers, scanners, electronics and ledgers. The evidence led investigators to execute warrants on several storage lockers where boxes of tax documents, mail and identification cards were located, none of which belonged to the individuals associated to the storage locker. One person was charged with 49 criminal code offences relating to the frauds but subsequently failed to attend court-appointed dates.
In December 2023, a social media post was issued in attempts to locate the accused, who was wanted on warrants for failing to appear for court. As a result, multiple tips from the public led officers to believe the woman was continuing to commit fraud offences.
Investigators believe much of the stolen identity documents, including Social Insurance Numbers (SINs), Alberta health care numbers and tax documents, were taken from storage locker break and enters. The personal information, affecting as many as 50 victims, was then allegedly used to apply for fraudulent credit cards, which were used for online purchases.
