Identity thief charged as part of long Smoky Lake RCMP investigation

A lengthy fraud investigation with Smoky Lake RCMP has concluded with a Ponoka man facing charges.

On Aug. 22, Smoky Lake RCMP received a report that multiple credit cards were taken out and a vehicle was purchased under the victim’s name. Through investigation, Smoky Lake RCMP were able to identify the suspect involved in these offences as a Ponoka resident.

On Dec. 13, 2023, officers from Ponoka and Smoky Lake RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence on 54 street and 54 avenue in Ponoka.

As a result of the search, officers located:

• fabricated credit cards
• printers with blank cheques loaded in them
• Documents with other individuals personal information including drivers licences
• Stolen property
• A firearm with an altered serial number and other weapons.

RCMP have charged Greg Thomas Allen (35), a resident of Ponoka, with:

• Fraud

• Identification  Theft
• Identification Fraud
• Uttering ID in another’s name
• Forgery
• Trafficking or possession of a forged document
• Possess prohibited firearm
• Possess prohibited weapon
• Careless use of weapon
• Tampering with serial number of a firearm,
• Possession of stolen property under $5000
• Possession of Instruments for copying credit card.

Allen was taken before a justice of the peace on this and other related charges and was remanded into custody with his next court date set for Jan. 14, 2023, at the Alberta Court of Justice In Ponoka.

“One person can cause a great deal of harm to a community, “ says Sgt. Tyler Epp of the Ponoka RCMP,” Mr. Allen is a repeat offender who in this case has victimized a great deal of people. The investigation continues as we continue to locate victims.”