Eight arrests, five wanted in $3 million long term fraud investigation into Ontario business

A complex long term fraud investigation dating back to 2015 has led to eight arrests, with five more wanted by Durham Regional Police after a Durham Region cleaning business was defrauded of more than $3 million.

Project Fletcher focused on a 54-year-old Clarington woman employed as the Operations Manager with ServiceMaster.

Financial irregularities were identified following a corporate restructuring, prompting an internal audit and notification to police in November 2021. Investigators determined the suspect orchestrated a sophisticated fraud scheme involving the diversion of employee wages, the redirection of payroll funds to other individuals – including family members – and the submission of fraudulent subcontractor invoices for work that was never performed.

Police believe the fraud may have spanned more than 15 years but the review period was limited to January 2015 through October 2021 due to the available financial records. Losses to ServiceMaster during that six-year period are believed to exceed $3 million, police say.

A forensic audit identified approximately 270 fraudulent cheques issued to eight subcontractor companies and deposited into 22 bank accounts.

Police say the investigation revealed extensive money laundering activity, including the use of cheque cashing businesses, multiple financial institutions, and the movement of funds across Durham Region, the GTA and around the world.

Eight individuals have been arrested and charged.

• Duaa Hadweh, 54, is charged with fraud over $5,000, theft over $5,000, possession of proceeds over $5,000, laundering proceeds of crime and uttering forged documents.
• Bishara Hadweh, 63, of Clarington, Richard Hadweh, 31, of Clarington, Roberto Campos, 63 of Oshawa and Rina Hadweh, 30 – a U.S. citizen – are all charged with fraud over $5,000, theft over $5,000, possession of proceeds over $5,000 and laundering proceeds of crime.
• Fabiane Batista Campos, 58, of Oshawa is charged with fraud over $5,000, theft over $5,000 and possession of proceeds over $5,000. Willians Freddy Roman, 58, of Brampton is charged with fraud.

Five additional suspects remain outstanding, and police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating them.

• Gabriel Gustavo Amuz Cerquis, 56; Gabriela Noel Amuz Balari, 23; Rodrigo Nicolas Amuz Balari, 21; Alexandra Noemi Ramos Bausera, 39; and Gustavo Alejandro Malvarez, 59.

Durham Police thanked FINTRAC and the Forensic Accounting Management Group who were engaged to assist with the investigation, which involved 27 judicial orders, tens of thousands of financial records, and extensive data analysis.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact A/Detective Finley of the Financial Crimes Unit at 1 888 579 1520, ext. 5358.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 TIPS (8477) or online at http://durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The ServiceMaster brand cited has no connection to ServiceMaster Restore Durham Region originally mentioned in this story. It is a separate franchise operating under a different division of the ServiceMaster brand referenced in the police investigation. INsauga regrets any confusion.