Two Brampton men are among four people charged following an Ontario Provincial Police investigation into an alleged scheme involving stolen vehicles that were re-VINned and fraudulently registered before being resold across Ontario.<\/p>\n
The OPP-led Provincial Auto Theft and Towing Team announced charges following Project Tailwind, an investigation launched in March 2026 into the resale of stolen vehicles using altered Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs).<\/p>\n
Re-VINning involves altering or replacing a vehicle\u2019s VIN to disguise a stolen vehicle as legitimate, allowing it to be resold to unsuspecting buyers or used in other criminal activity.<\/p>\n
Police allege documents used in Ontario\u2019s vehicle registration process were improperly obtained and used to give stolen vehicles new VINs, allowing the vehicles to be registered with the Ministry of Transportation, sold and driven as legitimate vehicles.<\/p>\n
As part of the investigation, officers executed four search warrants on May 5 at homes in Maple, Brampton and Kitchener. Investigators recovered six stolen vehicles along with electronic devices.<\/p>\n
Sarvathan Balasubramaniam, 32, of Brampton, and Gajan Karunanithy, 34, of Brampton, have each been charged with using, dealing or acting on forged documents and trafficking property obtained by crime over $5,000.<\/p>\n
Also charged are Sonia Cianfaran, 28, of Vaughan, and Jose Lozano, 36, of Kitchener.<\/p>\n
Police allege Cianfaran, an employee at a privately operated ServiceOntario location, improperly accessed or facilitated documents connected to the fraudulent registration process. She faces charges of breach of trust and trafficking property obtained by crime over $5,000.<\/p>\n
All four accused were released from custody and are scheduled to appear in an Ontario Court of Justice courtroom in Newmarket on June 12.<\/p>\n
The OPP said the investigation involved support from the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement, which oversees ServiceOntario operations, as well as the Ministry of Transportation.<\/p>\n
Police continue to work with investigative partners, including \u00c9quit\u00e9 Association, to combat organized auto theft and VIN fraud in Ontario.<\/p>\n