Ottawa (September 21, 2020) – The Ottawa police laid fraud charges against three Ottawa snow removal companies. Investigators accused Snow Vaporizers, Faul Properties, and Altitude Snow Removal of accepting money from customers for snow removal services last winter, which were allegedly not provided. As a result, the owners of the three companies each face fraud-related charges. The police said, the companies operated independently and that they believe there may be more victims.
Three Ottawa snow removal companies are facing fraud charges in connection with their services last winter, according to a police press release. Ottawa police’s fraud unit believes there may be more victims who have not made reports yet.
Fraud allegations against three Ottawa snow removal companies
The Ottawa police received reports made from Ottawa residents last winter about fraud allegations against three snow removal companies. Subsequently, officers conducted investigations into Snow Vaporizers, Faul Properties, and Altitude Snow Removal.
According to the victim reports, ‘little to no snow removal service’ was provided after they made payments to the companies. The police determined that the companies allegedly fraudulently obtained money for snow removal services from their clients in Ottawa.
Police said, companies operated independently and are not connected to each other.
Police laid multiple fraud charges
As a result, the owners of the three companies each face fraud-related charges for accepting money from customers but providing no service in return.
Snow Vaporizers owner Michael Labrecque is facing seven counts of obtaining money by false pretense under $5,000 and seven counts of fraud under $5,000. The 29-year-old allegedly obtained approximately $34,500. Officers charged Alexandre Albuquerque-Bussieres, owner of Faul Properties, with 11 counts of obtaining money by false pretense under $5,000 and 11 counts of fraud under $5,000. The 40-year-old allegedly obtained about $3,300. Nataliano Petrini-Woolley, the owner of Altitude Snow Removal, is facing seven counts of obtaining money by false pretense under $5,000 as well as seven counts of fraud under $5,000. The 28-year-old obtained approximately $7,000.
The police believe there may be more victims who have not made reports to the police yet and asked possible victims of Snow vaporizers, Faul Properties, or Altitude Snow Removal to make an online report to the Ottawa police.
Read more: Oblique Toronto contractor sentenced to almost four years in prison for defrauding customers
‘The Ottawa Police Service Fraud Unit would also like to remind the public to consider asking more questions in relation to snow removal companies as winter approaches,’ advised the officials in their press release. ‘The best price and / or promise may be too good to be true. Consider doing research on the company you’re interested in to see if they are licensed, well known, have the capabilities and are reliable.’
