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Calgary man charged with defrauding foreign Olympic athletes – Metro US

Calgary man charged with defrauding foreign Olympic athletes

Charges have been laid against a Calgary man for defrauding foreign athletes training for the Vancouver Olympics in that city.

One of the victims is from the Unites States bobsled team, Calgary police said. They did not name the athlete.

An investigation began in November of 2008 after three foreign athletes contacted police to say they were met and befriended by a man advertising the development of a lake-front property for resale.

The man, who incorporated an Alberta company named Canadian Properties Corporation in the summer of 2007, claimed he had purchased a parcel of land near Camrose, Alta.

The three athletes, along with at least seven others, invested $435,000 into “Lake Lot Properties in Camrose County,” each paying anywhere from $25,000 to $105,000.

After being unable to contact Canadian Properties Corporation in October 2008 the athletes asked the police for help.

Investigators said in a release that none of the money has been recovered and is believed to have been used for personal gain by the suspect and an associate.

Robert Gordon Daignault, 42, who is known to Calgary police, was arrested on March 15. He faces various theft and fraud charges.