Edmonton man charged with fraudulent firearms purchase by Calgary police

Calgary police have charged a man with 33 offences related to fraud and firearms following an investigation.

The charges came after investigatorswere alerted May 15 to concerns that an individual was buying firearms using a compromised firearms licence. After investigating, the officers discovered that the firearms licence had been reported as lost, along with other identification documents belonging to the victim.

The police believe the suspect was using the victim's firearms licence and identity documents to buy firearms from private sellers across Alberta, who had advertised their firearms for sale on a legitimate resale website.

Steven Thomas Marleau, 32, of Edmonton, was charged with one count each of firearms trafficking, unsafe storage of a firearm, unsafe transportation of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle and forgery.

He was also charged with two counts each of possession of a firearm knowing possession was unauthorized, possession of a prohibited device knowing possession was unauthorized, and possession of a weapon obtained by crime and identity theft.

Marleau also faces three counts of identity theft, seven counts of using or possession of a forged document, and five counts each of breaching a recognizance and possession of a firearm contrary to a court order.

Police seized the following:

• A Sig Sauer Mosquito semi-automatic handgun.
• An SKS rifle.
• Two prohibited, high capacity magazines.
• Assorted ammunition.
• Documents and equipment related to fraud and identity theft.
• Multiple electronic devices.

"Although the suspect in this case took steps to conceal his identity from these firearms sellers, we are asking citizens to be diligent in confirming who they are selling their firearms to," saidStaff Sgt. Greg Cooper of the CPS guns andgangs unit.

"While there are legitimate reasons for citizens to buy and sell firearms, these weapons can be deadly in the hands of criminals," he added.

Marleau is scheduled to appear in court on May 30.