Charges in Theft of Mail and Fraud
The Calgary Police Service has laid more than 40 charges against two people in relation to mail theft and identity fraud.
Just after 3 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2014, officers were called to a hotel room in the 9200 block of Macleod Trail S.E. for reports of suspicious activity occurring in one of the rooms.
While police were on scene, the occupants of the room returned and were arrested.
Following the execution of a search warrant, investigators found garbage bags full of stolen mail, three notebooks containing numerous pages of credit card data and identity information, nine keys believed to provide access to apartment mailboxes, computers, debit and credit cards, numerous bank statements in names not belonging to the residents of the room and a small amount of ecstasy.
As the result of an investigation by District 6, supported by the Economic Crimes Unit, it is believed the two people were part of an organized group conducting mail theft that would then be used to obtain personal information to create fraudulent cheques for bank fraud.
Gian-Paulo Marco BELLABONO, 37, of Calgary, is charged with:
- five counts of possession of identity documents
- five counts of identity theft
- one count of uttering a forged document
- one count of possession of matter stolen from mail
- one count of theft from mail
- one count of theft over $5,000
- one count of possession of stolen property over $5,000
- five counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000
- two counts of identity fraud
- one count of credit card fraud
BELLABONO will next appear in court on Monday, June 16, 2014.
Ashley SAWATZKY, 23, of Calgary, is charged with:
- five counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000
- one count of possession of matter stolen from mail
- one count of theft from mail
- five counts of identity theft
- five counts of possession of identity documents
- one count of theft under $5,000
- one count of identity fraud
She will appear in court on Tuesday, June 24, 2014.
The Calgary Police Service would like to thank Canada Post for their assistance in this investigation.