Region of Peel – Investigators from Peel Regional Police 11 Division Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Commercial Auto Crime Bureau, in collaboration with Equite Association, have disrupted and dismantled an organized auto theft ring operating in Peel Region, in an investigation dubbed Project Memphis.
Project Memphis began in March 2023 when Peel Regional Police were provided information of a possible re-vinned vehicle. Investigators determined some of the stolen vehicles were being re-vinned, fraudulently re-registered and sold in Mississauga. In some cases, the accused attempted to defraud multiple financial and insurance institutions. Various investigative tools were used to identify multiple suspects, recover these stolen vehicles and prevent insurance fraud.
The results of Project Memphis were as follows:
– 12 individuals arrested and 81 charges laid
– Over $350,000 insurance fraud prevented
– 9 stolen vehicles recovered valued at over $1.2M
- 2 Range Rover Sports
- 2 Ram 1500s
- 1 Bentley Bentayga
- 1 BMW M5
- 1 BMW X5
- 1 Porsche Panamera
- 1 Jeep Wrangler
“Project Memphis was a complex and multi-faceted investigation that required incredible investigative efforts,” said Chief Nishan Duraiappah. “The success of this investigation was a testament to effective collaboration and the shared goal of disrupting criminality of all kind.”
PRP has arrested and charged the following individuals:
Tristan Serrano, a 26-year-old man from Mississauga,
- Trafficking in stolen goods (X 9)
- Fraud over $5000 (X 9)
- Fraudulent Concealment (X 9)
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime (X 2)
- Possession of Counterfeit Mark
- Conspiracy to Commit
Joshua Cunanan, a 24-year-old man from Mississauga
- Trafficking in stolen goods (X 9)
- Fraud over $5000 (x9)
- Forgery/Utter Forged Document (X 5)
- Conspiracy to commit
Franc Martin Cruz, 23-year-old man from Mississauga
- Trafficking in stolen goods
- Fraud over $5000
Destiny Ogieva, 25-year-old man from Mississauga
- Trafficking in stolen goods
- Fraud over $5000
- Fraudulent Concealment
- Conspiracy to Commit
Rahul Bedi, 25-year-old from Mississauga
- Trafficking in stolen goods
- Fraud over $5000
Andrew Enriquez, a 26-year-old man from Mississauga
- Trafficking in stolen goods
- Fraud over $5000
Martin Suyat, a 26-year-old man from Mississauga
- Trafficking in stolen goods
- Fraud over $5000
- Conspiracy to Commit
Angelyne Suyat Pavalaraj, a 32-year-old woman from Toronto
- Trafficking in stolen goods
- Fraud over $5000
- Conspiracy to Commit
Krista Mcintyre, a 29-year-old woman from Mississauga
- Trafficking in stolen goods
- Fraud over $5000
- Conspiracy to Commit
John Ruivivar, a 24-year-old from Mississauga
- Trafficking in stolen goods
- Fraud over $5000
Mahmoud Chehadeh, a 36-year-old man from Hamilton
- Trafficking in stolen goods
- Fraud over $5000
- Fraudulent Concealment
Sear Azeem, 24-year-old man from Brampton
- Trafficking in stolen goods
- Fraud over $5000
All of the individuals were charged and released with conditions and will be appearing at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date.
The successful outcome of this investigation was a joint effort between the Peel Regional Police Commercial Auto Crime Unit, CBSA Intelligence, Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), Equite Association, Durham Regional Police and Woodstock Police.
Anyone with any information about this incident can contact investigators at the 11 Division Criminal Investigation Bureau at 905-453–2121, extension 1133. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.
