Third suspect charged in Clarington Flames coupon fraud
Published August 15, 2024 at 11:02 am
A third person has been charged with fraud in the sale of coupon books under the false claim of supporting the Clarington Flames girls’ hockey team.
Durham Police launched an investigation in May after officers received reports of a group going door-to-door selling booklets with the claim all proceeds will go to the team.
The investigation discovered no connection between the group, represented as JSMarketing, and the hockey club. The team has also not received any donations connected to the booklets.
The coupons also turned up at Papa’s Pizza Land in Whitby and Bowmanville, with the restaurants believing the proceeds from the sale of the coupons would go to the team.
The owner of JSMarketing, Jamie McCormick, a 46-year-old Whitby resident, was arrested Wednesday and is charged with fraud over $5,000. He was released on an Undertaking.
Robert Ted Kurosad, 53, and Jennifer Batten, 44 – both from Oshawa – were arrested in June and charged with fraud over $5,000 and obtain by false pretence. Both are affiliated with JSMarketing.
The Clarington Flames Girls Hockey Association is not affiliated with the marketing company or the suspects and has not received any donations. The coupon books are legitimate coupon books but the proceeds were not ending up with the hockey club and the suspects were not acting on behalf of the organization.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Det. Chapman of the Financial Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5352.
Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.
