Calgary, AB,
20
December
2022
|
16:50
America/Denver

Calgary man facing 20 charges in relation to theft and fraudulent sale of sea can containers

After a lengthy investigation that began in the summer, we have charged a Calgary man who is believed to be responsible for the theft and fraudulent sale of 94 sea can containers, valued at more than $640,000.

In June, a citizen who had purchased one of the containers was allegedly refused delivery of the container from the person who sold it to them. When the citizen contacted the sea can storage company to report the delivery issues, both the storage company and the citizen then reported the matter to police.

Over the course of several months, investigators learned that the suspect who had initially sold the container to the unsuspecting citizen, and several others, attended several rental companies and would rent sea cans under fictitious company names. After a few months, the suspect would stop paying the owed rent for the containers, and by the time the rental company tried to contact him, he had already fraudulently resold the containers to unsuspecting victims.

Throughout the investigation, police have identified four rental companies and 16 victims who have been defrauded by the suspect. Out of the 94 sea cans that were sold fraudulently, 40 have been recovered. Police continue to work to locate others.

 As a result, Rajneel Deo PRASAD, 37, was arrested at his residence on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022. Police have continued to lay additional charges against PRASAD as the investigation has progressed, with the most recent charges being laid as of last week.

PRASAD is charged with:

  • Five counts of fraud $5,000  
  • Five counts of trafficking stolen property  
  • One count of possession ID of documents
  • One count of possession of a forged document
  • One count of possession of forgery instruments
  • Two counts of breach of probation order
  • Four counts of using a forged document
  • One count of possession of proceeds of crime


PRASAD was scheduled to next appear in court today, Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact police by calling 403-266-1234. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers through any of the following methods:

TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
APP: P3 Tips

CA22258927/ CA22332739/ CA22366661/ CA22342016/ 5056