Calgary fraudster under lifetime trading ban faces new charges, again

A Calgary man under a lifetime trading ban for fleecing investors is facing fraud charges for a fourth time, while still involved in court hearings on previous charges.

Neil Andrew McDonald is accused of stealing someone's identity and obtaining approximately$25,000 of credit betweenAug.25, 2016 and March 24, 2017. He's also accused of opening a fraudulent bank account with the sameidentity.

Police say he's been using the alias Neil Andrews.

The charges were laid following an investigation by theJoint Serious Offences Team, which is a collaboration betweenthe Alberta Securities Commission (ASC), Alberta RCMPand Crown prosecution service.

McDonald was first found to have violated Alberta securities law by fraudulently raising $439,000 from investors in 2009.

He settled out of court for $20,000 with theASC, whichbanned him from trading or advising in securities for 15 years a ban McDonald was later found to have violated.

• Convicted fraudster accused of cheating clients of $240K and defying lifetime trading ban

In 2015, McDonald was sentenced to two years in jailand ordered to pay $240,000 restitution to three people he defrauded in violation of that agreement.

And in February 2017, McDonald was slapped with seven new charges. He was accused of fraudulently raising another $240,000 between 2012 and 2015while he was before the courts on his previous fraud charges.

The new charges, which occurred while McDonald was on release conditions bound by recognizance on the February 2017 charges, are:

• One count of fraud.
• One count of identity fraud.
• One count of use of a falsified credit card.
• One count of failing to comply with recognizance.

He's scheduled to appear in court for a bail hearing on July 23 in Calgary.

• MORE CRIME NEWS |Woman charged after 8 distressed dogs rescued from Alberta motel room has history of animal cruelty
• MORE CRIME NEWS |Woman convicted in son's strep death granted day parole after 8 months
• Read more articles byCBC Calgarylike us onFacebookfor updates and subscribe to ourCBC Calgary newsletterfor the day's news at a glance.