Skip to content

Chilliwack man pleads to fraud and ID theft crime spree

Gregory Cromarty also pleaded guilty to forging Indian Status certificate
7943238_web1_GregoryCromarty

A Chilliwack man who went on a credit card fraud crime spree earlier this year pleaded guilty to a dozen of the 32 charges he faced.

Gregory Cromarty, 45, appeared in Chilliwack provincial court via video to plead to the 12 charges that included defrauding Home Depot, American Express, Capital 1, as well as forging an Indian Status certificate.

The original charges included: six counts of false pretence; four counts of personation with intent to gain advantage; three counts each of possession of stolen property under $5,000, possess/use stolen credit card, forgery, and identity theft; two counts each of fraud over $5,000, and dealing with identity document without lawful excuse; and one count each of fraud, unauthorized use of credit card data, possess forged document with intent to commit offence, making/possessing forgery instruments, and possession of a controlled substance.

In court on Tuesday, Cromarty pleaded guilty to, among other charges, falsely obtaining credit cards from Home Depot, American Express and Capital 1; possession of a stolen 1989 Honda Civic; falsely impersonating someone and then using a credit card in the name of that individual; defrauding Capital 1 of more than $5,000; forging an Indian Status certificate; and possession of meth.

A pre-sentencing report was ordered along with a psychological component.

The dates of the alleged crimes were in January, February and March of this year.

His co-accused Virginia Fina Myles faces 15 charges and is next due in court Aug. 15. Also co-accused on one count on the file is Dennis Wayne Jensen, also due in court Aug. 15.

After Cromarty’s arrest on March 23, local RCMP issued a press release about the case after receiving reports of a local man who was allegedly involved in property crime and credit card fraud.

During the “complex investigation,” RCMP Crime Reduction Unit officers supported by the Priority Offender Suppression Team (POST) covertly gathered evidence to link a suspect, the possession of stolen property, identity theft, and an address to the alleged crimes.

Cromarty was taken into custody after he was stopped by police while driving in the 45000-block of Wellington Avenue. During their search of the suspect and vehicle investigators located further evidence linking the man to stolen property and identity theft.

The arrest was followed later that evening with the execution of a search warrant in the 9500-block of Corbould Street by CRU and POST officers where police seized altered identification, credit cards, and banking information. Five people taken into custody during the execution of the warrant were later released at the address by police.

Cromarty is known to Chilliwack RCMP. He was convicted of uttering threats in 2015. He was also charged after an incident in Hope on Oct. 2, 2016: assault and fear of injury by another person. He was convicted of the lesser charge, fined $500 and put on a one year recognizance.

He is also scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 29 for theft over $5,000 in connection with a Dec. 13, 2016 alleged incident in Chilliwack.

And back in 2015, Cromarty was given one year probation after being convicted of uttering threats in 2013.