Man falsifying firearms training course charged with fraud

We have charged a man in relation to conducting a fraudulent firearms training course out of his home in northwest Calgary.

Between January 2022 and June 2022, it is believed the man offered private firearms training to several victims while posing as an ex-military veteran.

Victims believed they were registering to complete a Restricted Possession and Acquisition Licence (RPAL) course with a certified instructor. It is alleged the man provided safety booklets and gave firearms handling instruction to the victims before they were asked to complete a Canadian firearms safety exam as the final step of their certification.

In turn, the victims would provide payment, their personal information, and photographs, which the man alleged was part of the application process, but the victims were never officially certified, as the man does not possess a firearms licence nor is he certified as an instructor.

After a lengthily investigation, a search warrant was conducted inside the man’s home, and on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022, police seized ammunition, documentation associated with several RPAL applications, photographs and personal information belonging to the victims.

As a result, Bradley Keith BELL, 36, of Calgary, has been charged with four counts of failure to comply with a release order and one count of fraud under $5,000.

BELL will next appear in court today, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022.

“This type of fraudulent firearms training poses a risk to the public and we are thankful through our investigations we were able to stop this individual from deceiving more victims,” says Acting Sergeant Steve Lynch of the Calgary Police Service Firearms Team. “We encourage anyone who may have been a victim of this type of falsified training to come forward to police.”  

Anyone with information about similar 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

Case #CA22313530/5008