Theft of Telecommunications - Five Men from the Laurentian Region Charged

News Release

Saint-Jérôme, October 11, 2006 - Five men from the Laurentian
region were charged with fraud and theft of satellite signals in September
2006 at the Saint-Jérôme Court House. These charges follow
an investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) which carried
out a major cyberundercover operation to put an end to the illegal activities
of a criminal organization involved in the Internet sale of cards used
to pirate satellite signals.
This operation named Capricorne was a joint investigation by the RCMP
Laurentides-Lanaudière-Outaouais Detachment officers, and Canada
Post and Industry Canada investigators.
The project originated from suspicious financial transactions identified
by Canada Post investigators. The investigators had observed a considerable
number of postal money orders issued to two of the accused for the allowed
maximum amount of $999.99. It is believed that between $10,000 and $15,000
were sent weekly to the accused through such money orders.
The subsequent criminal investigation by the RCMP revealed that these
postal money orders were used to pay for cards used to pirate satellite
signals. Three Internet sites controlled by the accused offered consumers
to buy online these cards as well as related items and software. Purchases
made online by RCMP and Industry Canada investigators showed that the
various illegal electronic components were sold for $25 to $170 a piece.
The Internet sites used to commit these offences were disabled on June
29, 2005 when the RCMP conducted a series of six searches in the accused
residences and at the company La Boîte Principale. This business
located in Piedmont was registered under the name of the accused and
was used for card programming, storage and piracy. On July 22, 2005 another
search was carried out as part of Project Capricorne in a warehouse in
the Saint-Sauveur region. This search led to the discovery of an even
larger number of pirate cards and equipment used to pirate satellite
television signals. Electronic components, documents related to the sale
of these items and approximately thirty computers were found at the various
locations searched.
The accused are:

Name
Age
Residence

Martin GAUTHIER
38
Saint-Sauveur

Allan Bruce MACDOWELL
46
Saint-Sauveur

Pierre LEBOEUF
41
Bois-des-Filion

Dimas Manuel VEIGA
41
Saint-Sauveur

Richard BÉLAIR
51
Sainte-Adèle

These five individuals were charged with fraud under section 380(1)
of the Criminal Code of Canada and possession of device to obtain
telecommunication facility or service under section 327(1) of the Criminal
Code of Canada.
A complete analysis of the hard disks on the seized computers made it
possible to trace the names and addresses of many clients of this ring.
These clients could receive statements of offence.
The three partners in Project Capricorne wish to reiterate that they
will pursue appropriate action in order to enforce applicable laws pertaining
to illegal business practices such as fraud and the theft of telecommunications.
The theft of satellite signals accounts for losses estimated at more
than 100 million dollars annually for the Canadian economy.
The partners also take this opportunity to promote public awareness
of this social evil and to encourage electronic equipment retailers and
consumers to refrain from engaging in this illegal trade.
-30-
For information:

Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Communications Office
(514) 939-8308
Canada Post
Media Relations
(514) 345-7666
Industry Canada
Media Relations
(613) 943-2502

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Theft of Telecommunications - Five Men from the Laurentian Region Charged

News Release

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