RCMP officers raided what they are calling a large-scale fake credit card "factory" in a Nanaimo, B.C. home and arrested four people over the weekend.
Police seized several computers and hard drives, dozens of data storage devices, computer software programs, as well as numerous gift cards and credit cards. Officers also found 4 to 5 grams of methamphetamine and 50 to 75 milliliters of GHB, commonly known as the date rape drug.
One of the suspects arrested in the raid, William Garnet Marks, 50, has since pled guilty and received six months in jail for possessing instruments to forge or falsify credit cards.
"It is believed by the investigators these persons were actively involved in the manufacturing of fake credit cards. The data used on these cards was taken from stolen credit cards and other pieces of identification," Const. Gary O'Brien said in a press release.
Steve Wayne Albiston, 32, was also charged with possession of instruments to falsify or forge credit cards. He was released from custody and is scheduled to make his next court appearance on May 12.
Aaron Jason Watson, 30, was charged with possession of a stolen credit card and the unauthorized use of credit data. He will return to court on July 20.
Dawn Christina Pound, 33, was charged with possession of instruments to forge or falsify credit cards. Her next court appearance is set for later this month.
Both Marks and Pound live at the home where the alleged forgery operation was based.
Investigators believe it will take many weeks to process the evidence collected and are confident more charges will be laid once their investigation is complete, O'Brien told ctvbc.ca.
