A Vaughan man has been arrested by the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) following an investigation into a fraud case worth more than $150,000.
In March 2024, the HRPS was contacted after a series of fraudulent withdraws (totalling $156,000) from an account at an HSBC branch in Burlington. Police attended, arrested, and charged the individual making the withdraws at that time.
Their Financial Crimes Unit continued to investigate and eventually identified an additional suspect who organized the crime. To gain access to the bank account, the accused used a fake Ontario Drivers License and made large withdraws via cash and wire transfer.
On Thursday, June 26th, HRPS officers executed a search warrant at the residence of the accused in Vaughan. The accused was arrested at that time. Police also located and seized a large quantity of psilocybin, and a prohibited firearm (.22 calibre rifle).
As result of the investigation and search warrant, 41-year-old Andrew Meeks has been charged with the following:
- Fraud Over $5000
- Possession of Schedule III substance (psilocybin)
- Careless Use of a Firearm
- Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm
- Breach of a Firearm Prohibition Order
Meeks was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Financial Crimes Unit at 905-825-4777.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. “See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers” at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
