Four individuals have been charged, including an employee from a privately operated Service Ontario center, after the OPP alleges that vehicle registration documents were improperly acquired and misused.
A resident of Vaughan is among the four people facing charges, which include an employee of a privately run Service Ontario center. This follows an OPP investigation into the resale of stolen vehicles that had their VINs altered in Ontario.
The initiative, dubbed Project TAILWIND, kicked off last March and revealed that essential documents needed for vehicle registration in Ontario were being obtained and used improperly, as noted in a news release from the OPP.
These documents were then utilized to assign new Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) to stolen vehicles, enabling them to be registered with the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO), sold, and driven on public roads as if they were legitimate vehicles, according to police reports.
The Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement (through Service Ontario) along with the MTO, both responsible for overseeing vehicle registrations, assisted in this investigation.
On Tuesday, May 5, authorities executed four search warrants at homes in Maple, Brampton, and Kitchener as well as on one vehicle. Investigators managed to recover six stolen cars alongside some electronic devices, police reported.
Sonia Cianfarani, 28 years old from Vaughan, faces charges under the Criminal Code (CC) for breach of trust; and trafficking property obtained by crime over $5,000.
Sarvathan Balasubramaniam, 32 from Brampton; Gajan Karunanithy, 34 also from Brampton; and Jose Lozano, 36 from Kitchener are all charged with use or dealing with forged documents; and trafficking property obtained by crime over $5,000 under the Criminal Code (CC).
The accused individuals have been released from custody and are set to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket on Friday June 12th 2026 according to police information.
If anyone has any details related to this case or information about auto theft activities they should reach out to the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. If you prefer anonymity you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or visit ontariocrimestoppers. ca.
“Frauds such as these can have substantial impacts on victims leaving unsuspecting buyers with significant financial losses. This investigation highlights the extent to which vehicle identification information can be misused to disguise stolen vehicles and reintroduce them into the marketplace. The OPP-led PATT Team will continue to investigate those who engage in fraudulent activities working with our partners to protect the integrity of Ontario’s vehicle registration system. We encourage the public to take steps to safeguard themselves when purchasing a used vehicle,” said OPP Chief Supt. Mike Stoddart Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau.
Visit opp. ca/autotheft to learn more about how to protect yourself when purchasing a used vehicle.
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