Three Shelburne County men are facing charges following an RCMP investigation into an alleged lobster theft and fraud case.
In a release police say the three individuals were charged following a 22-month investigation into allegations of lobster theft and fraud totaling approximately $3 million.
RCMP say the Barrington detachment received information in July of 2015 indicating that a Shag Harbour man had defrauded a Shelburne County lobster company of $175,000 during the 2013/14 lobster fishing season.
The Shelburne County Street Crime Enforcement Unit (made up of RCMP members from Barrington and Shelburne detachments) and the Yarmouth Federal Serious & Organized Crime Section began a lengthy and complex investigation.
During the course of the investigation, evidence indicated that during the 2014/15 lobster fishing season, a Clark’s Harbour lobster company was defrauded of over $500,000.
During the 2015/16 lobster fishing season, a Barrington company was defrauded of over $500,000, a Shelburne County company was defrauded of $1.7 million and a Taiwan company was defrauded of over $250,000.
The three suspects were arrested in Shelburne County on May 17.
Fifty-one year-old Terry Dale Banks of Shag Harbour is charged with four counts of Fraud over $5,000 and three counts of Theft over $5,000.
Sixty-nine year-old Wayne Lawrence Banks of Shag Harbour faces three charges each of Fraud over $5,000 and Theft over $5,000.
Fifty-one year-old Christopher Olen Malone of Port Clyde is charged with one count each of Fraud over $5,000 and Theft over $5,000.
Christopher Malone and Wayne Banks were released on conditions and are scheduled to appear at Shelburne Provincial Court on August 24, 2017.
Terry Banks was held and appeared on May 18 in Shelburne Provincial Court and was released on conditions.
He is also scheduled to appear on August 24 at Shelburne Provincial Court.
Southwest Nova District Policing Officer Supt. Martin Marin spoke on the charges in Barrington today:
