EPS charge suspect after 31 more complainants come forward in hot tub fraud investigation
Posted October 3, 2024 3:35 pm.
After the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) launched a hot tub repair fraud investigation in July 2024, 31 more complainants have come forward.
The police have now charged 55-year-old Kenneth David Nicholls after receiving multiple reports from customers claiming he had failed to provide hot tub repairs and services for which he had taken payment.
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EPS in a news release Thursday said that investigators initially fielded 17 fraud-related complaints and 31 more came forward after EPS began the probe.
“This investigation quickly snowballed as more complainants came forward with reports of paying for services they did not receive,” said Cst. Shannon Weston of the Police Electronic Response Team (PERT). “The investigation revealed that the accused had taken payment for nearly $100,000 worth of services that were never delivered.”
Nicholls faces 46 charges including fraud under $5,000 (x32), fraud over $5,000 (x4), Theft over $5,000 (x3), and theft under $5,000 (x7).
