Two males, ages 29 and 32, are facing each facing two new charges in connection with a recent alleged “white money” scam. The males, who are from Montreal and Toronto, were first arrested Thursday, August 9, 2012 in a joint-forces investigation involving Regina Police Service Patrol and Commercial Crimes members as well as RCMP Commercial Crimes members.
Continued investigation into the activities of the accused has resulted in a new charge of Fraud Over $5,000 against each. It is alleged the two accused did a demonstration of the so-called “white money” transformation on August 8, 2012, for the owner of a Regina business in the 2700 block of Avonhurst Drive. Typically, in the “white money” scam, a suspect tells the potential victim that pieces of plain white paper are actually money that has been altered to conceal it from corrupt authorities in another country. The suspect then shows the victim how to use a liquid solution to turn the white paper back into real currency, but the suspect actually uses sleight of hand to fool the victim.
The co-accused in this case were released on August 13, 2012, with conditions of no contact with each other. They were re-arrested on August 14th, together, at a hotel in East Regina and charged with a breach of their release conditions as well as in connection to the August 8th incident on Avonhurst Drive.
Thirty-two year-old Lloyd Koupeh ANDREWS, DOB: 1980-05-25, of Toronto and 29 year-old Emmanuel GBALA, DOB: 1983-05-15, of Montreal, are each charged with Fraud Over $5,000 [380(1)(a) CC] and Breach of Recognizance [145(3) CC]. Both accused made their first court appearances on the new charges in Provincial Court at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 15, 2012.
