Alleged Regina identity fraudsters face similar charges in Alberta

One of 23 alleged victims of identity fraud in Regina wonders why the man who was charged, and has a long history of fraud convictions, was released on bail just two weeks before the Saskatchewanincidents.

Marino Vecchiolispoke to CBC's iTeam about the case involving James Donald Provost, of no fixed address, who faces58 charges related to mail theft, forgery, impersonation and identity fraud.

Vecchioli said that in mid-November, a credit check was done on him as part of his efforts to buy a car.

I noticed that there were four or five inquiries that I didnt do. So I was like, What the hell is this? Vecchioli recalled.

He learned someone had applied for a variety of credit cards,using his information,without his knowledge.

And I didnt know how they got my [information], so we looked into it a little further and I found out they must have got some of my mail, Vecchioli said.

He said mail addressed to him had been delivered to acondohe owns that had been vacant for a few months, andhewas shocked to learn perpetrators got two credit cards approved, using only his name and address, whilemaking up the rest of the information.

According to court documents, Provost allegedly had a Saskatchewan drivers licence and an Ontario birth certificate bearing Vecchiolis name. Police allege the documents were, or appeared to be, forged.

However,Provost has not been charged for offences related to credit card applications made in Vecchioloi's name.

Vecchioli said that now hes working with a credit agency to repair the damage caused by what he callsa pretty big ordeal.

Theyre still actually working on it, like on fixing the credit report. Its still not even fixed yet. Its been over a month now.

Regina police allege Vecchioliand 22 other people were victimized by Provost between Nov. 16 and Dec.18.

They said Provost targeted people and businesses from Prince of Wales Drive in east-endRegina to Hanbidge Crescent in the northwest.

Provost was arrested in a Harbour Landing hotel roomwhere police said they found equipment used to forge identity documents.

They say he stole mail and forged correctional service inmate cards, health cards, Indian status cards and drivers licences.

Provost is now on remand andset to appear in court Tuesday morning.

Criminal record dates back to 1990s

Provost has a lengthy criminal record dating back to the 1990s.

He facesmore than 70 charges in Alberta, where its alleged he forged documents, stole mail, impersonated people and possessed identity documents belonging to dozens of people.

His Alberta court date is set for later this year.

Despite the long list of charges, Provost was released on $5,000 bail on Oct. 31, just days before he is alleged to have begun a crime spree in Saskatchewan.

Its crazy to me, Vecchioli told CBCs iTeam, You know theyre going to do it again. Why would you give them $5,000 bail? Why would you give them bail at all?

Keep the guy locked up and that way he cant do what he is doing.

CBCs iTeam asked the head of commercial crime for the Regina Police Service, Sgt.Bob Koroluk, about Provosts previous record.

Any police officer would be disturbed when that happens, when criminals come from other provinces, come here to Regina and commit the same offences that theyve committed somewhere else, Koroluk said.

Everybodys disturbed.

But Koroluk said hes not necessarily surprised.

We see it all the time, Koroluk explained. There [are] criminals that never learn.

2nd Regina ID fraud ring linked to Provost

The same day warrants were issued for Provosts arrest, police were rounding up another group of suspects in Regina who wereaccused of identity fraud and theft.

One of the accused, Brad Waselenchuk, appears to have been an associate of Provosts in Alberta.

In Regina, he was charged with identity fraud and theft, possession of stolen mail, possession of forged documents and fraud over $5,000.

Last March, in Alberta, Waselenchuk and Provost faced similar allegations when they were charged together with theft of mail and various fraud offences.

They were both released on bail on Oct. 31. Waselenchuk was let go on a promise to pay $2,000 if he violated his bail conditions.

Like Provost, Waselenchuk also has a lengthy record of fraud convictions dating back to the 1990s.

Koroluk said police have no evidence to suggest the two men were working together in Saskatchewan. He said the incidents are being investigated separately.

Ex-RCMP head wants tougher penalties

The former director of the RCMPs proceeds of crime unit, Garry Clement, said this story highlights a problem with the way Canada treats fraud.

Canada has to start treating white-collar criminals with some severity because the unfortunate part is there isnt any respect of the damage they are doing to these individuals [victims]and in some cases, its life changing for some of these people, he said.

Clement, who now runs a private security firm, said sentences in this country for fraud and other financial crimes are a borderline joke.

The trend has been in the last few years that you are seeing more and more organized crime groups moving into the white-collar crime arena, Clement said.

The returns are pretty good and the risks are absolutely minimal. Weve been known for a long time to be very soft on white-collar crime.

Clement said frauds are difficult to investigate and prosecute, yet the criminals often end up serving just a few months before getting back out on the street.

He said Canada should consider more severe penalties, such asfive to 10 years in prison,for habitual white-collar criminals.

Theyd probably think twice of it. I am not saying it is going to eliminate it, but at least theres consequences for being a serial white-collar criminal."