A police investigation into bank fraud has led to the arrest of a married couple from Brampton.
“The investigation revealed that the accused allegedly used fraudulent identification in the form of credit cards, Ontario drivers’ licences, immigration documents and birth certificates to open both personal and business bank accounts under false names,” Peel Regional Police said, adding the alleged incidents occurred in Brampton and Mississauga.
In a separate incident, the husband is alleged to have impersonated a legitimate bank client to open new accounts, obtain debit cards, and withdraw funds from multiple bank branches before the fraud was detected, police said.
His wife is alleged to have received funds transferred to her personal bank account from fraudulent accounts created by the male accused.
As a result of these incidents, financial losses exceeded $86,000. The financial institutions reimbursed all affected victims.
On April 29, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in Brampton. As a result, Donato Pento, a 43-year-old male, was arrested and charged with the following offences:
Two counts of identity fraud
Three counts of fraud over $5,000
Uttering forged documents
Fail to comply with a release order
Some of the alleged offences occurred while Pento was already subject to court‑ordered conditions prohibiting him from possessing identification or banking documents that were not his own. Pento was held pending a bail hearing.
On May 6, Neuza Tavarez, a 43-year-old female, was arrested and charged with possession of property obtained by crime in connection with these offences and subsequently released on an undertaking.
Police would like to talk to anyone else who may have been victimized.
They can contact investigators with the Fraud Bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3335. Anonymous information may also be submitted by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.
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