The accused was charged with three counts of fraud over $5,000 and one count of possession of property obtained by fraud.
The Crown alleged that between January 2012 and September 2013, the accused orchestrated a sophisticated fraud scheme involving the deposit of worthless cheques into credit card accounts to artificially inflate credit limits, followed by coordinated purchases of high-end merchandise from Home Depot stores across the Greater Toronto Area.
The accused, self-represented with assistance of amicus curiae, claimed he had permission from cardholders to use their cards and that he was merely a middleman facilitating transactions for gamblers and others who needed quick cash.
The trial judge found the Crown had proven all essential elements of the offences beyond a reasonable doubt and rejected the accused's explanations as inherently unconvincing and lacking logic.
The court also dismissed a section 11(b) Charter application regarding delay in trial, finding exceptional circumstances justified the time taken.
