More than $3 million worth of lobster is at the centre of a complex, international case involving fraud and theft allegations aimed against three men from Nova Scotia, say RCMP.
The Mounties say their investigation started in July 2015 when allegations arose that a man from Shag Harbour, N.S., has allegedly defrauded a Shelburne County lobster company of $175,000 during the previous fishing season.
During the investigation, he RCMP also looked into similar allegations involving a lobster company in Clark’s Harbour that had been defrauded of over half a million dollars in 2014-2015.
RCMP say they also investigated allegations that a Barrington company was defrauded over $500,000, a Shelburne County company was defrauded $1.7 million and a Taiwan company was defrauded over $250,000.
Three men from Shelburne County were arrested on Wednesday.
Terry Banks, who is now facing charges of fraud and theft. (Facebook)
Three men facing fraud charges
Terry Banks, 51, was charged with four counts of fraud over $5,000 and three counts of theft over $5,000 involving allegations he was part of a scheme that stole about $3 million from four different seafood companies.
His 69-year-old brother, Wayne, faces six fraud and theft charges, and a third man, Chris Malone, 52, is charged with one count of fraud and one count of theft.
RCMP Supt. Martin Marin said Tuesday that those charged had a “substantial reach and influence on the local, national and international seafood market.”
“Had this fraudulent activity continued, Nova Scotia’s economy and seafood industry could have been negatively impacted,” he said in a news release.
Read more at Global News
