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PhoneBusters
Project
Pinnacle - Arrest of Terrance Croteau
June 12, 2005 --
Terrance
Croteau (owner/operator of Pinnacle/MDCS in Welland) was arrested
late Friday afternoon in Cancun, Mexico by Mexican authorities
and sent back to the United States (he has duel citizenship).
He was arrested by the US Marshall on the strength
of the USPS warrant for Wire Fraud.
This case was a joint partnership file between the OPP, NRPF,
FTC, USPS and PhoneBusters with the assistance of members
of the Toronto Strategic Partnership.
After a 3 month investigation into the business practises
of Croteau in Welland last
spring, 3 search warrants were executed in Welland
at the boiler room, Croteau's residence and his vehicle. This
resulted in fraud charges being laid in Welland as well as
the FTC filing civil charges in Chicago and the USPS filing
criminal charges (Wire Fraud) in the southern
district of Illinois.
Croteau had fled the Welland area in August/September of last
year and has
been on the run for the past 8 months. He was tracked to Mexico.
There was a Provisional Warrant obtained for his arrest
in Canada to have him extradited to the United States.
With his arrest and direct return to the United States there
will be no need for an extradition hearing and in speaking
with the US Prosecutor Bruce Rempert - this matter will proceed
through the courts over the next 6 - 8
months with either a trial or quick guilty plea.
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