Husband and Wife Arrested Following Multiple Identity and Bank Fraud Incidents
Region of Peel – Investigators with the Fraud Bureau have arrested a husband and wife from Brampton following an investigation into a series of identity and bank fraud incidents in Mississauga and 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.
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.
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. All affected victims were reimbursed by the financial institutions.
On April 29, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence Brampton. As a result, Donato Pento, a 43-year-old male, was arrested and charged with the following offences:
- Identity Fraud x2
- Fraud Over $5,000 x3
- 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.
Investigators believe there may be additional victims that have not come forward yet. Peel Regional Police remind the public to protect personal identification, regularly monitor bank accounts, and report suspicious activity to financial institutions and police as soon as possible.
For more information about fraud, including prevention tips, please visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to 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.
SOCIAL MEDIA
MEDIA CONTACT
Email: media.relations@peelpolice.ca
Phone: 905-453-2121, ext. 4027
N/R: 26-079
Occ#: PR250212820
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