(TORONTO, ON) – Members of the Serious Fraud Office for Ontario (SFO) have continued their investigation into individuals receiving small business relief funds through fraudulent means and have made two more arrests.
In fall 2020, the Ontario Government announced and began rolling out small business relief programs to assist small businesses with operating costs and loss of revenue due to mandatory COVID-19 pandemic closures. After reviewing the applications of two individuals from the Greater Toronto Area, the Ministry of Finance deemed them suspicious and referred them to the SFO for investigation.
It is alleged relief funding from the government was applied for through fictitious or ineligible businesses. In these cases, the grant found to be exploited was the COVID-19 Energy Cost Rebate program.
As a result of the investigation, two individuals have been arrested and charged with offences contrary to the Criminal Code:
Theophilus OGUNKUNLE, aged 51 years of Woodbridge, is charged with:
· Fraud Over $5,000
· Utter Forged Document
· Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
Omolola OGUNKUNLE, aged 36 years of Woodbridge, is charged with:
· Fraud Over $5,000
· Utter Forged Document
· Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Over $5,000
The accused have been released and are scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on May 10, 2024.
The SFO will not comment further in order to protect the integrity of the investigation and court processes.
