Two males, ages 38 and 40, are facing numerous charges including fraud and identity theft as the result of an investigation by the Regina Police Service Patrol Division and Commercial Crimes Unit.
This investigation began on May 15, 2015, when police patrol members were dispatched to a financial business in the 700 block of Victoria Avenue. A male was on the premises, attempting to obtain a loan when staff members noted that he fit the description of an individual who had committed fraud and identity theft at other locations of the same business. Police arrived and detained a 38 year-old male suspect. While the officer was obtaining further information, the suspect fled the building and attempted to get into a vehicle parked a block away. A second male, at the vehicle, ran away when he saw police approaching. The two suspects were chased, on foot, by two officers and apprehended. The vehicle was seized and searched, yielding numerous pieces of identification, issued under different names, all with the same photo. These pieces of identification included Province of Ontario birth certificates, Firearms Possession-only cards and Indian status cards. Other equipment that could be used in making forged identification was seized, including printers, scanners, a laminating machine and computers. The investigation led to charges against the two males taken into custody.
Thirty-eight year-old Jeffrey Paul RENECKER, DOB: 1976-12-26, of London, Ontario, is facing eleven charges in total: two charges of Identity Fraud [56.1(1) CC]; two charges of Possession of a Forged Document with Intent [368(1)(d) CC]; two charges of Identity Theft [402.2(1) CC]; Fraud Under $5,000 [380(1)(b) CC]; Obstruct Peace Officer [129(a) CC]; Resist Arrest [129(a) CC]; Forgery Make False Document [366(1)(a) CC]; and Personation with Intent to Obtain Property [403(1)(b) CC].
Forty year-old Shawn Richard SMITH, DOB: 1975-04-08, of no fixed address, is facing five charges in total: Fraud Under $5,000 [380(1)(b) CC]; Possession of a Forged Document with Intent [368(1)(d) CC]; Identity Fraud [56.1(1) CC]; Personation with Intent to Obtain Property [403(1)(b) CC] and Identity Theft [402.2(1) CC].
Both accused made their first court appearances on these charges in Provincial Court at 9:30 a.m. today, Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Investigation on these matters is ongoing.