Man bought five cars, $140,000 boat – but high life comes to an end

Some thing money just can't buy, but for everything else there is Mastercard.

The North Vancouver man bought what he wanted, and enjoyed it. Until the Mounties came knocking.

Now he faces 92 charges of buying expensive cars, a boat and other items on fraudulently obtained credit card information.

RCMP began looking into his cozy lifestyle after a car dealer in North Vancouver complained that they had sold two cars to the man for $110,000.

“The method of payment for the two vehicles was primarily by different credit cards that were provided by the purchaser over a period of time. After the transactions had been completed, the dealership received notification from the financial institutions that had issued the credit card accounts that the transactions were reported as fraudulent or unauthorized by the legitimate cardholders,” police said.

“It is alleged that the accused surreptitiously obtained proprietary account data, which is the property of a number of financial institutions located in Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, and in Europe and the Middle East,” investigators said.

“This account data is used to generate credit cards which are issued to clients of the financial institutions. The stolen data was transposed onto new fraudulent credit cards and unauthorized transactions were conducted,” investigators said.

Police also found the man had bought a boat for $140,000. The payment method was credit cards.

The merchant obtained court authorization to seize the vessel. But when a bailiff approached the boat on which Jahanrakhshan was with a woman, he fled at high speed, colliding with a number of vessels and damaging them.

Police marine units and a chopper tracked the boat and stopped it in Vancouver harbour.

Police have now thrown the book at the man.

The criminal charges that have been laid are:

- 32 counts of Fraud contrary to Section 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
- 42 counts of Possession, Use, or Trafficking of a forged or falsified credit card knowing that it was obtained, made or altered by the commission in Canada of an offence contrary to Section 342(1)(c) of the Criminal Code.
- 9 counts of Possession of Property knowing that all or part of the property or proceeds of the property was obtained by or derived directly or indirectly from the Commission of an offence, contrary to Section 354(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
- 5 counts of Fraud contrary to Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code.
- 1 count of Possession of Instruments for forging or falsifying credit cards contrary to Section 342.01(1)(d) of the Criminal Code.
- 1 count of Unauthorized Use of Credit card data contrary to Section 342(3) of the Criminal Code.
- 1 count of Dangerous Operation of Motor Vessel contrary to Section 249(1)(b) of the Criminal Code.
- 1 count of Failing to Stop at an Accident with another vessel contrary to Section 252(1)(b) of the Criminal Code.

The suspect appeared in court on Thursday. He was released on a cash (for a change) bail.

A trial date will be set.

Related articles:

1. Man ordered to pay $3.2 million restitution in child porn case
2. ‘We want a new start with Islam’ Obama tells 1.2 billion Muslims
3. India’s external affairs minister to take on race issues in Australia
4. Obama as a philosopher: The power of humility