Provincial police charge Ottawa couple in $100,000 fraud in Sharbot Lake area

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Ontario Provincial Police officers have charged a couple from Ottawa with fraud in connection with a confidence scam police say bilked victims in the Sharbot Lake area of as much as $100,000 from August, 2o13 to March, 2016.

According to police, the pair allegedly claimed to have political connections that could be used to influence, engage and establish trust with victims. In some cases, police allege the accused would pose as people in positions of power to coerce their victims to hand over money.

Police did not release any further details about the alleged fraud, saying other victims are possible and the investigation is ongoing.

Police said the pair is known to have frequented Montreal and Kingston and are asking anyone with information to contact 613-372-1932 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Gipse Julio Ricardo Villas, 67, known as “Guilio” Villas, and and his wife, Jessia Louise Villas, 41, both of Ottawa each face two charges of fraud over $5,000.

They were released on a promise to appear in Sharbot Lake court on Dec. 18.

Sharbot Lake is about 125 kilometres west of Ottawa.

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