Uxbridge Taxidermist arrested for insurance fraud

[9.3mauser]

If you have any critters in this guy's care, you might want to look in on them;

https://www.durhamradionews.com/archives/182441

Durham police have arrested a man in connection with an insurance fraud involving exotic animals.

On September 11, 2023, police were contacted by an insurance company about multiple claims filed by Artistry in Motion Taxidermy, that they believed to be fraudulent.

They said the owner of the business purchased deceased exotic animals such as tigers, lions and monkeys, after they died of natural causes, for use as art pieces.

In May of 2022, the owner made a claim to the insurance company for a weather-related failure of his refrigeration system, which he claimed resulted in a financial loss of over $500,000 of animals.

In June of 2023, the owner made a second claim to the insurance company for another refrigeration system failure, which he claimed resulted in a financial loss of over $700,000 of animals.

Police say after an investigation into zoos, ranches, and safaris both in Canada and in Africa, named by the suspect, it was revealed that the suspect had fraudulently produced purchase invoices, created fictitious zoos and safaris, and inflated the value of the deceased animals.

Cyril D’Souza, 65 from Uxbridge is charged with: Fraud Over $5000 x2, and Utter Forged Document x2.

He was released on an Undertaking.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact D/Cst. Tisi of the Financial Crimes Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5729 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

 

[FLHTCUI]

What a fool...
Two high value claims in a short period of time and to think the insurance company would not investigate.

 

[IvoB]

I would have waited a couple years before I did another hit

 

[Spcamno]

Wow, looks like taxidermy not his real job lol convicted another fraud back in Sept 2023 already.

https://globalnews.ca/news/9957836/ontario-taxidermist-fined-polar-bear-pelt-fraud/

Copied from the link above:

An Ontario taxidermist has been fined $60,000 after violating federal wildlife law for illegal polar bear exports.

​

In a statement, Environment and Climate Change Canada reported that in Oshawa court on Tuesday, Cyril D’Souza, of Uxbridge, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating federal wild animal and plant protection rules.


D’Souza’s $60,000 fine will be directed to the federal government’s environmental damages fund.


The ministry says wildlife enforcement officers began an investigation in the summer of 2018 after they discovered inconsistent information in permits used to export a polar bear mount and two hides from Ontario to China.




The ministry says under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, Canadian exporters must obtain a permit before exporting regulated species.


“The investigation revealed that D’Souza was deceptive and planned extensively in intentionally providing false and misleading information to obtain the permit,” the ministry stated.

The ministry says its wildlife enforcement officers used a number of methods in its investigation that identify and track legal polar hides, including analyzing muscle tissue DNA, analyzing the stable isotope of fur samples, and inserting encrypted microchips to track polar bear parts from harvest through export.


“The collaboration with law enforcement agencies in Nunavut, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and in the United States was key in the investigation,” the ministry stated.


The court also ordered the taxidermist to forfeit one full polar bear mount and two hides or rugs.

— with files from The Canadian Press

 

[Midnight Rider]

Doesn't sound like the sharpest tool in the shed ; or maybe just out right desperate....hard to know ?

 

[bertn]

Doesn't sound like the sharpest tool in the shed ; or maybe just out right desperate....hard to know ?

Desperate? Greedy comes to mind..

 

[hoytcanon]

Does this not strike anyone as invasive and illegal???

".. inserting encrypted microchips to track polar bear parts from harvest through export."

 

[trevj]

Does this not strike anyone as invasive and illegal???

".. inserting encrypted microchips to track polar bear parts from harvest through export."

How do you figure either invasive, or illegal?

It strikes me as being exactly the same as what they do with Bighorn Sheep, during the mandatory Inspection required by Law. Once the RFID chip is epoxied in to the horns, it takes a simple scan of a hand-held wand, and you need never worry about anyone accusing you of poaching them. Seems a more equitable system, than to simply blanket ban ALL movement or exports of the stuff, to me, like they did with Ivory or Rhino horn.
It's essentially the same tech that the Vets use to "Chip" your dog or cat.

 

[stanleon]

It was obvious he will be arrested sooner or later.