$22,000 in counterfeit U.S. cash seized
By Robert Frank
Laval police have broken up a sophisticated criminal lab that they discovered was forging credit cards and identity documents.
The bust arose after Laval police visited the condominium complex at 639 Robert Élie to arrest a man wanted by Montreal police for allegedly committing an act of fraud in Montreal.
“When they knocked on the door to arrest him, they saw the whole setup and called in Laval detectives,” Const. Franco di Genova told The Suburban.
Investigators ultimately searched two dwellings in the condominium complex.
“It was a very well-structured organization,” he explained, “all high-end scanners and printers.”
“Four computers were also seized, as well as a magnetic strip reader to glean information contained in the black strip on the back of credit cards,” Const. di Genova continued, “as well as plastic embossers that create the raised letters and numbers on credit and debit cards.”
“In addition, investigators seized reproductions of official identity documents such as driver’s permits, medicare cards, social insurance cards and all types of blank cards. They also found 1,000 blank credit cards as well as another 500 blanks: white cards with nothing but the magnetic strip on the back, plus a machine that plasticizes the card.”
“They also found $2,000 in Canadian currency as well as $22,000 in counterfeit U.S. currency.”
In addition to the man sought by Montreal police, two other suspects, Sébastien Michelot and Adelson Barionette faced charges at the Laval courthouse, Jan. 18. The two are known to the regional police task force, through which Laval police investigators cooperate with their counterparts from North Shore police services.
Montreal police Const. Anie Lemieux declined to disclose the name of the third man whom Montreal detectives originally wanted to arrest.
“Our investigators were working on something that led to this,” she acknowledged in an interview with The Suburban. “The matter is in the hands of Laval police now.”
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