Several criminal charges have been laid against three West Nipissing men after an OPP Anti-Rackets Branch investigation of allegations of financial irregularities involving the Municipality of West Nipissing.
One of those men, Steve Morrison, is the Chair of the West Nipissing Police Services Board. Another, Marc Gagnon was hired last month as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Municipality of French River.
In late January 2016, the OPP got a formal request from the Chief of West Nipissing Police Service, Chuck Seguin, to conduct an independent investigation into dealings between the Municipality and a third-party contractor.
Charged are:
Marc Gagnon, aged 49 years of West Nipissing with:
- Fraud Over $5,000 (2 Counts)
- Breach of Trust
- Fraud on Government
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Uttering Forged Documents
Luc Rifou, aged 42 years of West Nipissing with:
- Fraud Over $5,000 (2 Counts)
- Breach of Trust
- Fraud on Government
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Uttering Forged Documents
Steve Morrison, aged 42 years of Sturgeon Falls, with:
- Fraud Over $5,000 (2 Counts)
- Fraud on Government
- Conspiracy to Commit an Indictable Offence
- Uttering Forged Documents
Police say the investigation is ongoing.
All three accused are expected to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Sturgeon Falls on October 6.
Original story: West Nipissing "irregularities" investigated by OPP anti-rackets branch
And: Managers fired for "irregularities"
And: West Nipissing Public Notice
And: West Nipissing Mayor calls fraud investigation a 'difficult and challenging period'
