Fraudulent Humboldt Broncos GoFundMe page leads to criminal charges

Nov 23 2018, 2:39 am

Saskatoon RCMP arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with a fraudulent GoFundMe page claiming to raise money for the victims of the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash that took place in April.

According to a release, an initial investigation by Saskatoon RCMP and the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority (FCAA) uncovered alleged investor fraud running under the name Aero Capital Inc.

Further evidence showed that a GoFundMe Page operating under the name #PrayForHumbodt received money from 35 individuals from Canada and the United States who donated nearly $3800 to the campaign.

The page has been taken down and donators have been notified.

On November 20, RCMP arrested and charged Andrij Olesiuk with several charges including fraud over and under $5000, laundering proceeds of crime, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5000.

Olesiuk made his first court appearance in Saskatoon Provincial Court on November 21 and his next court appearance is scheduled for December 12.

The bus carrying players and coaching staff from the Saskatchewan Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team was hit by the semi-trailer on Friday, April 6.

The crash killed 16 people, including the bus driver, while 14 others were injured.

Police say there were 29 people onboard the bus, which was en route to Nipawin for a Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League semifinals playoff game, when the crash took place about 30 km north of Tisdale, Saskatchewan.

Jaskirat Singh Sidhu, 29, of Alberta has been charged with 16 counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and 13 counts of dangerous operation of motor vehicle causing bodily injury.

See also
Simran SinghSimran Singh

+ News
+ Offside
+ Crime
ADVERTISEMENT