RCMP charge 15 people with Proceeds of Crime related offences

TORONTO, May 15, 2013 /CNW/ - The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) - Greater Toronto Area (GTA) Integrated Proceeds of Crime Unit (IPOC) has charged 15 individuals with multiple counts of: possession of property obtained by crime; money laundering; obtaining credit through fraud; using forged documents; and committing an indictable offence for the benefit of a criminal organization.  The accused are related family members.

This is the culmination of a three year long financial crime investigation which arose from an investigation initiated in 2008 dubbed "OMacDonald". Project "OMacDonald" had focused on members of a criminal organization involved in operating indoor and outdoor marihuana grow operations throughout Ontario. In December 2009, investigators with the RCMP Criminal Organization Marihuana Enforcement Team.(COMET) together with the RCMP GTA IPOC were involved in the arrest of the alleged leader of this criminal organization, Peter Huu Hat LE, who, along with 16 other accused in Canada and the U.S., were charged with multiple drug offences involving the production of marihuana and its distribution in Canada and the export of ecstasy and methamphetamine to the United States.

This investigation revealed that over a ten year span, members of the criminal organization led by Peter Huu Hat LE were associated to 27 marihuana grow operations in Ontario and 2 sites in British Columbia. Of the 29 sites identified, 18 were owned directly or indirectly by one or more of the family members. Three of those family members, also held real estate licenses in Ontario.

The current charges allege that members of this organization generated profits in excess of 3.6 million dollars from their illicit activities which were shared amongst members of this criminal enterprise. Those proceeds were used to purchase 41 properties, three coffee shop franchises, one commercial fishing vessel & license, and other small businesses which were used to launder the proceeds of their criminal activities. As a result, police have seized and/or restrained assets valued in excess of $2.7 million dollars, including: 14 properties; 6 vehicles; a fishing vessel & license; and 32 bank accounts. Police also allege that members of this criminal organization used fraudulent documentation to obtain mortgages and other financing totaling in excess of $8.7 million dollars, to acquire properties, which in several instances, were used for illegal marihuana production and grow operations.  For photos visit this link and click on the associated news release.

Charged are:

1. (Peter) Huu Hat LE - age 46 of Toronto, Ontario
2. Thi Thuy Huong HOANG - age 38 of Winnipeg, Manitoba
3. Dung Thi TRUONG - age 32 of Calgary, Alberta
4. Huu Hanh LE - age 48 of Vancouver, British Columbia
5. Thi Mo LE - age 46 of Mississauga, Ontario
6. Thuy Thu LE -  age 24 of Mississauga, Ontario
7. Wendy Uyen LE -  age 38 of Mississauga, Ontario
8. (Andy) An Thien TRAN - age 50 of Mississauga, Ontario
9. Tinh Thi LE - age 36 of Toronto, Ontario
10. Dan Khac LE - age 39 of Brampton, Ontario
11. Huu Tam LE - age 44 Niagara Falls, Ontario
12. Thi Thuy PHAM - age 43 of Niagara Falls, Ontario
13. Huu Chin LE - age 41 of Toronto, Ontario
14. Thi Thuy Hong NGUYEN -  age 34 of Mississauga, Ontario
15. Ghi Thi LE - age 81 of no fixed address

Inspector Mark Pearson, the officer in charge of the GTA Integrated Proceeds of Crime Section stated that "our enforcement action conveys a clear message of intolerance to criminal organizations and others who seek profits from the unlawful manufacture and distribution of drugs which endanger youth and the communities we serve".  He added "through the application of judicial process that affords seizure and restraint of criminally generated proceeds of crime, we are able to dismantle organized crime and contribute to the safety of our communities. Such financial crime enforcement action compliments our commitment to Canada's national anti-drug strategy."

Anyone with information regarding criminal activity is encouraged to contact their local police, the Ontario RCMP at 1-800-387-0020 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

SOURCE: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Media contact:

Sgt Richard Rollings,
RCMP Media Relations
"O" Division (Ontario)
[phone]