OPPA - Corruption, fraud, money laundering

[GostHacked]

Ontario Provincial Police Association - OPPA

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/unusual-transactions-in-opp-union-funds-among-allegations-against-top-execs-1.2278747

CTV News has obtained details of allegations of theft, fraud, criminal breach of trust and laundering the proceeds of crime levelled against three top executives of the Ontario Provincial Police Association. The allegations are outlined in more than 200 pages of court documents obtained Friday.

The RCMP is investigating what’s described as “significant and unusual transactions” using OPPA funds. They include an alleged $13,000 deposit on a condominium in the Bahamas which is worth an estimated $1.5 million; and an alleged $30,000 payout to two OPPA executive members for unused vacation. There are also separate allegations of untraceable shares being held in offshore companies.

The unsealed RCMP documents allege that OPPA president and CEO Jim Christie, vice-president Martin Bain and chief administrative officer Karl Walsh, used companies they either set up or partly owned, to obtain exclusive rights to services used by the association, including travel and investment services.

I'll bet these guys get nothing more than a slap on the wrist and that's it. Investigating this could lead to other corrupt things within the police unions and the police departments themselves. Well, I could hope anyways.

[Bob Macadoo]

I'm confused here. Are the allegations that these guys are embezzling profit out of the union pot? It reads like they are making questionable investments......it's fire-able but is it felonious? What services are they collecting in these separate companies.......airmiles? Just like the breaking article by the CBC alot of smoke but the fire is confusing.......and they have court filings now. I really question investigative journalism today.

[GostHacked]

Seems like they shuffled some money around and awarded contracts to cronies (speculation on the cronies). So yes some very criminal activity happening here. But you are right on the investigative journalism, there really is none from the main stream media. Need to look more to the independent news for some facts.

[Michael Hardner]

Good point Bob. "Money laundering" would mean funneling the proceeds of crime into an apparently legitimate business wouldn't it ? That's what caught my eye and I didn't see anything more about laundering in the article.

[GostHacked]

Good point Bob. "Money laundering" would mean funneling the proceeds of crime into an apparently legitimate business wouldn't it ? That's what caught my eye and I didn't see anything more about laundering in the article.

Same link. Looks like money laundering to me, or more accurately 'embezzlement'.

In the statement used to obtain the search warrant, the investigating officer, RCMP Sgt. Gordon Aristotle, said: “I believe that the subjects of the investigation have organized various schemes.” According to Aristotle, the schemes included “companies for which they hold hidden beneficial ownership” that offer travel and investment services that are being promoted to the OPPA membership.

Financial documents reveal that one of those companies was First Response Travel Group. The RCMP allege the travel service provider made $400,000 from the OPPA because its employees “were being forced to use First Response for their travel needs.”

Another company, PIN Consulting Group, was charging the OPPA $180,000 in consulting fees, the documents allege. Investigators allege the money paid to PIN Consulting was then being used to pay for shares in First Response.

There are also allegations from one witness of “a sense of entitlement and arrogance” among the executive leadership of the police union.

Separate allegations involve work schedules. One witness has told investigators that the schedules for vacation or days off were manipulated to indicate that work was done when executives were away.

Edited March 14, 2015 by GostHacked

[Bob Macadoo]

Still not there. OPPA employees were "forced" to use a sole-source travel agency for OPPA business that had the executive as principals. Again a removable offence for the conflicts involved but unforunately that occurs in private business all the time too. Where's the criminality? The OPPA is not subject to any public office conflict statutes are they?

I agree it's ethically ammoral but a union head office is just another private business and as capitalism teaches if you ain't lyin' you ain't tryin'.

[GostHacked]

Still not there. OPPA employees were "forced" to use a sole-source travel agency for OPPA business that had the executive as principals. Again a removable offence for the conflicts involved but unforunately that occurs in private business all the time too. Where's the criminality? The OPPA is not subject to any public office conflict statutes are they?

I agree it's ethically ammoral but a union head office is just another private business and as capitalism teaches if you ain't lyin' you ain't tryin'.

According to the articles and reports, the three being charged held more than 50% stake in said travel agency. Conflict of Interest while being part of a non-profit organization. They used the funds to make money for their company. We can guarantee kick backs happened as well. This agency is more expensive than the one they previously had.

[Bob Macadoo]

According to the articles and reports, the three being charged held more than 50% stake in said travel agency. Conflict of Interest while being part of a non-profit organization. They used the funds to make money for their company. We can guarantee kick backs happened as well. This agency is more expensive than the one they previously had.

Non-profits are not subject to conflict statutes any more than For-profits. Now if they were embezzling funds for service not rendered.....or defrauding in some fashion.....I'm with you. If though they have stake in a company providing full service to a company they have executive influence over......and that's all......there'd be alot of white collars in the slammer.

I think the hub-bub is "it's obscene that UNION executives are greedy unethical bastards......letxs expose them for the Brotherhood frauds they are."

[GostHacked]

Non-profits are not subject to conflict statutes any more than For-profits. Now if they were embezzling funds for service not rendered.....or defrauding in some fashion.....I'm with you. If though they have stake in a company providing full service to a company they have executive influence over......and that's all......there'd be alot of white collars in the slammer.

I think the hub-bub is "it's obscene that UNION executives are greedy unethical bastards......letxs expose them for the Brotherhood frauds they are."

There should be a lot of white collars in the slammer. These guys won't serve time, or if they do it will be minimal. The RCMP has been busy lately.

[Bob Macadoo]

There should be a lot of white collars in the slammer. These guys won't serve time, or if they do it will be minimal. The RCMP has been busy lately.

Unfotunately the foxes make the rules for the henhouse.

[GostHacked]

Unfotunately the foxes make the rules for the henhouse.

I keep saying, one set of rules for them, and another for those who set those rules for us. Quite the double standard.

[Big Guy]

Looks to me like these guys are wasting their time at the union. They should be in government.

[WWWTT]

Good point Bob. "Money laundering" would mean funneling the proceeds of crime into an apparently legitimate business wouldn't it ? That's what caught my eye and I didn't see anything more about laundering in the article.

I agree it's ethically ammoral but a union head office is just another private business and as capitalism teaches if you ain't lyin' you ain't tryin'.

Looks to me like these guys are wasting their time at the union. They should be in government.

Summer 2014, Ontario provincial election.

OPPA puts out adds attacking PC Hudack.

Fast forward 6 months, and guess what?

WWWTT

[Argus]

Still not there. OPPA employees were "forced" to use a sole-source travel agency for OPPA business that had the executive as principals. Again a removable offence for the conflicts involved but unforunately that occurs in private business all the time too. Where's the criminality? The OPPA is not subject to any public office conflict statutes are they?

I agree it's ethically ammoral but a union head office is just another private business and as capitalism teaches if you ain't lyin' you ain't tryin'.

Using union money to buy high priced Florida condos? And who was going to be using these condos?

Remember also that three of the four involved are not merely union executives but police officers.

[GostHacked]

Argus and WWWTT, a few more good points. Them being present or former police makes it more sad. I thought these guys were to have integrity. All these isolated incidents of corruption and fraud all make it look systemic and acceptable in some cases.

I wonder if we will hear from the Ontario leadership on this matter.

[Bob Macadoo]

Using union money to buy high priced Florida condos? And who was going to be using these condos?

Remember also that three of the four involved are not merely union executives but police officers.

A private enterprise can't invest their revenue to make a return? Your assumption is that these condos are for nefarious reasons. I'm not there yet. What difference does it make they are police officers? Union members can't make money outside their beat job?

[GostHacked]

A private enterprise can't invest their revenue to make a return? Your assumption is that these condos are for nefarious reasons. I'm not there yet. What difference does it make they are police officers? Union members can't make money outside their beat job?

The OPPA is a non profit organization. A few have embezzled the funds/donations for their own gain. Travel insurance went up when the OPPA switched to the insurance agency that those members has a majority stake in. That means those being charged benefited from the non profit organization. Conflict of interest and well, that's criminal to me. This cannot be considered making money on the side. Not when it directly affects the funds of the non-profit organization.

Edited March 14, 2015 by GostHacked

[Bob Macadoo]

The OPPA is a non profit organization. A few have embezzled the funds/donations for their own gain. Travel insurance went up when the OPPA switched to the insurance agency that those members has a majority stake in. That means those being charged benefited from the non profit organization. Conflict of interest and well, that's criminal to me. This cannot be considered making money on the side. Not when it directly affects the funds of the non-profit organization.

.....I guess it ensures they stay "non-profit".

Price gouging isn't illegal either. As it stands now to me.....if their employment contract has conflict laws....kick 'em out and if not let the union vote to impeach them.....you know democracy......represent the people.......union.....ya know?

Edited March 14, 2015 by Bob Macadoo

[guyser]

Price gouging isn't illegal either.

Yes it is, albeit hard to prosecute.

[Bob Macadoo]

Yes it is, albeit hard to prosecute.

I was exaggerating.....in this case there is no conspiracy, no price fixing.....it was accepted to pay higher insurance rates to this company.

Why is it OK for CEOs to be greedy, underhanded scumbums, but somehow if a union boss does it, for shame? This is about holding the union to account for the actions of an individual or individuals.

[GostHacked]

I was exaggerating.....in this case there is no conspiracy, no price fixing.....it was accepted to pay higher insurance rates to this company.

Why is it OK for CEOs to be greedy, underhanded scumbums, but somehow if a union boss does it, for shame? This is about holding the union to account for the actions of an individual or individuals.

The reason it was accepted was the people who had controlling interest of the insurance agency were the ones who made the decision to go with it, in turn making them money.

And it's not alright for CEOs to be greedy and underhanded. Hell it's something many of us have been posting about for some years now.

[Bob Macadoo]

And it's not alright for CEOs to be greedy and underhanded. Hell it's something many of us have been posting about for some years now.

I didn't mean you or I.....I mean the new & improved media who look for any chance to portray unions as corrupt.

[GostHacked]

I didn't mean you or I.....I mean the new & improved media who look for any chance to portray unions as corrupt.

There would be nothing for the RCMP to dig into if the unions were NOT corrupt. Hence this case. Same reason the RCMP is digging into the stuff in Quebec. Corruption , fraud, ect, from mayors, union leaders, police officials ......

[WWWTT]

I wonder if we will hear from the Ontario leadership on this matter.

I doubt the Wynne Government is going to help attack the same union that helped them get a majority.

If anything, I would imagine it would be the opposite.

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

A private enterprise can't invest their revenue to make a return? Your assumption is that these condos are for nefarious reasons. I'm not there yet. What difference does it make they are police officers? Union members can't make money outside their beat job?

Condos could be used by members or an investment.

The union I belong to has real estate for a number of reasons and all are legit.

It would depend on who's name the title is in.

WWWTT