Car scam ring busted; 500 charges laid.
A vehicle seized as part of Project Enterprise.
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Five men have been charged with more than 500 offences relating to a car scam investigation dubbed Project Enterprise.Police said the investigation targeted the alleged fraudulent issuance of structural certificates for rebuilt vehicles and the selling of those vehicles to unsuspecting purchasers in Toronto and Niagara Region.According to reports, the crime ring allegedly operated by buying legitimately trashed cars and then stealing an identical vehicle - usually from the GTA - for its working parts. The fused-together car would receive a fraudulent safety inspection to declare that it was road safe and re-registered, investigators said.Some drivers were operating vehicles with no air bags and weak welding.As a result of the investigation, more than 100 certified letters have been sent to drivers in Ontario, asking them to come in for a proper safety inspection.Project Enterprise was a joint investigation between the Toronto Police Service, OPP, Niagara Regional Police and the Ministry of Transportation's enforcement unit.John Keen, 51, of Toronto, has been charged with 52 counts of fraud and 52 counts of forging documents. Keen owned and operated Downtown Collision at 165 Geary Ave.Giovanni Bellisario, 53, of Toronto, has been charged with 125 counts of fraud and 125 counts of forging documents.Osvaldo Savia, 57, of Toronto, has been charged with 73 counts of fraud and 73 counts of forging documents. Savia was the operator of Car Care Centre at 24 Eddystone Ave.David De Oliveira, 33, of Toronto, has been charged with property obtained by crime, fraud, and two counts of forging documents. He is the owner of Prestige Collision at 62 Shaft Rd.Gabor Toth, 39, of Toronto, has been charged with seven counts of property obtained by crime and three counts of forging documents.