Man with alleged ties to Russian organized crime arrested in Saskatoon

A man whom Saskatoon police called “a known affiliate of a Russian organized crime group” is facing fraud- and identity-related charges in the city — and more charges from other locales may follow.

According to a media release Wednesday, Saskatoon police said they became aware in March that a man who was wanted on warrants and suspected of fraud by authorities across North America was living in Saskatoon under an assumed name.

Police said they raided a home in the 400 block of Pendygrasse Road on May 14 and arrested the man. A search warrant was executed and multiple false and forged documents were seized.

The police release said the 48-year-old man, who hails from the nation of Georgia, was charged with procurement of false identity documents, possession of credit cards obtained by the commission of an offence, possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000, possession of citizenship documents for a fraudulent purpose, fraud over $5,000, and use of forged documents.

“Additional charges are expected as investigations in several jurisdictions continue,” police said.