CBC News
Robert Randall Hawken, a 66-year-old financial adviser from London, Ontario, has been charged with defrauding at least 18 individuals out of a total of nearly $2 million. The charges come after an investigation by the London Police Service (LPS) revealed that Hawken had been taking money from clients under the guise of investing it, but ultimately failed to follow through on the promised investments.
The case came to light early this year when one victim contacted the LPS after discovering that a substantial amount of money they had invested with Hawken since 2003 was missing. Following further investigation, the LPS financial crime unit uncovered that Hawken had been collecting investment funds from a number of individuals but had not actually invested the money as promised.
The investigation determined that a total of 18 people had been defrauded, amounting to approximately $1,988,000 in total losses.
Hawken, who was arrested last Thursday, has been charged with:
- Fraud over $5,000
- Possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000
The accused is scheduled to appear in London court later this month to face the charges.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of thoroughly vetting financial advisers and monitoring investments to prevent such fraudulent schemes.