Man charged with fraud for alleged Broncos funding scam

SASKATOON A 32-year-old man in Saskatchewan is accused of fraud and laundering proceeds of crime, including setting up a Gofundme page, following the Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy.

Saskatoon RCMP were contacted on Oct. 3 regarding possible investor fraud and possible Gofundme fraud over incidents alleged to have happened between March 9, 2017, and June 20, 2018, according to an RCMP news release.

Following an early investigation with the securities division of the Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority, evidence was gathered that “suggested an alleged investor fraud was running under the name Aero Capital Inc.,” the news release stated.

Police also discovered evidence of a Gofundme page under the name of #PrayForhumboldt that had received 35 contributions — 21 from a Canadian donor and 14 from a donor in the United States. The campaign generated about $3,800 before it was closed down and the donors were notified.

On Tuesday, Saskatoon RCMP — with assistance from Martensville RCMP and Prince Albert RCMP — arrested 32-year-old Andrij Olesiuk.

He is charged with fraud over $5,000, fraud under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, and laundering proceeds of crime.

He appeared Wednesday in Saskatoon provincial court. His next scheduled appearance is Dec. 12.

The April 6 crash that killed 16 people and injured 13 others on board the Humboldt Broncos team bus attracted an outpouring of support, including more than $15 million raised by a Gofundme campaign that was started by a Humboldt resident.

Recommendations on how to divide that money are being considered by a special committee and it will be distributed by the courts under a process outlined in Saskatchewan’s Informal Public Appeals Act.