Charges have been laid against two people pretending to be victims fleeing the Fort McMurray wildfire.
On May 12, RCMP in Claresholm, Alta received a complaint from Family and Community Support Services that a couple might be pretending to be evacuees from Fort McMurray. A fraud investigation was launched and investigators were able to determine that the couple had never actually lived in Fort McMurray and they had no ties to Alberta.
“The couple simply took advantage of the people in the community of Claresholm who thought they were helping people who lost their home in the wildfires. Citizens of Claresholm provided a place to stay, clothes, meals and a purchase of work boots,” said RCMP in a statement.
On May 15, police charged Victoria resident 45-year-old Darryl Lincoln Joseph Rondeau with one count of fraud under $5,000. On May 26, police laid five charges of fraud under $5,000 against 39-year-old Jamie Lynn Cox.
Cox has been released from police custody on conditions. She is scheduled to appear in Fort McLeod Provincial Court on June 1. Rondeau pled guilty to his charge in Fort McLeod Provincial Court on Wednesday.
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