After a lengthy investigation, the EPS Economic Crimes Section determined that a former employee of an Edmonton-based machinery equipment company allegedly redirected marketing and advertising funds from the company to personal accounts.
Between 2000 and 2006, the former employee is believed to have used a number of methods to commit over half a million dollars in fraud, including:
- False billings to company issued credit cards.
- Creation of false identities to facilitate fraudulent payments for non-business or illegitimate purposes.
- Fraudulent billings for non-commissionable sales.
- Fraudulent payments to personal online payment accounts for non-business purposes.
- Fraudulent concealment and conversion of monies between online payment accounts of his spouse.
On Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, Mark Edward Vandenhouten, 46, and Sheryl Dawn Vandenhouten, 43, were arrested and both charged with fraud over $5,000, theft over $5,000, and laundering proceeds of crime.
The Vanderhoutens’ first court appearance is Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016.
To learn more about the Edmonton Police Service's Economic Crimes Section, please watch our This is Who We Are video.