(ORILLIA, ON) – Members with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Anti-Rackets Branch, Health Fraud Investigation Unit have charged two people in connection with the operation of two, privately-run addiction treatment centres.
In 2015, police received information that two individuals were unlawfully identifying themselves and practicing as doctors at Addiction Canada Treatment Centre locations in Caledon and Burk’s Falls. On May 19, 2015, one person was charged for the Criminal Code offences of Personation and Fraud while another person was charged under the Regulated Health Professions Act, a Provincial statute, for using the title of ‘doctor’. Neither of the individuals were licenced to practice medicine in Ontario.
An in-depth investigation revealed the owner of Addiction Canada was involved in the hiring of the two ‘doctors’ and controlled the operations of the business. As a result, John Derek HAINES — aged 51 years of Kleinburg — is charged with one count of Fraud Over $5,000 against clients of the Addiction Canada Treatment Centre (totalling $6.1 million), Money Laundering, and Proceeds of Crime contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada and Trafficking contrary to the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act. He is also charged with one count of Fraud Over $5,000 for submitting in excess of $11,000 worth of claims to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care’s Ontario Drug Benefit Plan.
Richard TUCKER — also known as ‘Dr. Tucker’ — aged 30 years of Waterloo, is charged with Fraud Under $5,000 contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada and Trafficking under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act. A previous charge under the Regulated Health Professions Act has been withdrawn.
Both men are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Orangeville on June 30th, 2016.
