The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of the arrests of a man and two women in connection with a fraud investigation.
It is alleged that:
- between January 2005 and December 2010, the accused operated an independent ministry as co-pastors
- they convinced members of the congregation and their family and friends to invest money in the form of loan agreements and investment contracts
- they were promised high rates of return compounded monthly
- the victims were told that one of the accused was a successful trader in foreign currencies
- each month the accused would have statements sent to the victims showing growth in their investment accounts
- they are believed to have transferred large portions of the victims' money to Panama
- eventually the investors complained to the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) who investigated the accused
- an OSC forensic audit concluded the accused were responsible for defrauding investors of $8.6 million, of which more than $4 million remains outstanding
- police have identified 38 victims, who lost a total of $2.1 million
- at the time of their arrest, the accused were operating as co-pastors of The Life Centre Word of Faith Ministries
On Thursday, May 2, 2013, Marlon Gary Hibbert, 49, and Verna Michelle Hibbert, 48, both of Toronto, were arrested and each charged with:
1) 38 counts of Fraud Over
They were scheduled to appear in court at College Park, on Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 2 p.m.
On Friday, May 3, 2013, Lorraine Bahlmann, 47, of Toronto, was charged with:
1) 38 counts of Fraud Over
She will be appearing in court at College Park, on Friday, May 3, 2013, at 2 p.m.
Police believe there may be other victims.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
It is alleged that:
- between January 2005 and December 2010, the accused operated an independent ministry as co-pastors
- they convinced members of the congregation and their family and friends to invest money in the form of loan agreements and investment contracts
- they were promised high rates of return compounded monthly
- the victims were told that one of the accused was a successful trader in foreign currencies
- each month the accused would have statements sent to the victims showing growth in their investment accounts
- they are believed to have transferred large portions of the victims' money to Panama
- eventually the investors complained to the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) who investigated the accused
- an OSC forensic audit concluded the accused were responsible for defrauding investors of $8.6 million, of which more than $4 million remains outstanding
- police have identified 38 victims, who lost a total of $2.1 million
- at the time of their arrest, the accused were operating as co-pastors of The Life Centre Word of Faith Ministries
On Thursday, May 2, 2013, Marlon Gary Hibbert, 49, and Verna Michelle Hibbert, 48, both of Toronto, were arrested and each charged with:
1) 38 counts of Fraud Over
They were scheduled to appear in court at College Park, on Thursday, May 2, 2013 at 2 p.m.
On Friday, May 3, 2013, Lorraine Bahlmann, 47, of Toronto, was charged with:
1) 38 counts of Fraud Over
She will be appearing in court at College Park, on Friday, May 3, 2013, at 2 p.m.
Police believe there may be other victims.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.