Companies charged with conspiracy to commit fraud & rig bids for GTA condo contracts
Multiple companies and their owners charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and rig bids for condo refurbishment contracts in the GTA
News release
From: Competition Bureau Canada
29 March 29, 2021
The Competition Bureau announced today that it has laid multiple criminal charges against four companies and three individuals in connection with an alleged conspiracy to commit fraud and rig bids for condominium refurbishment services in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
The following companies and individuals have each been charged under the Criminal Code with conspiracy to rig bids, conspiracy to commit fraud, and fraud over $5,000:
TRI-CAN Contract Incorporated and owner Bob Vlahopoulos;
JCO & Associates (912547 Ontario Inc.) and owner Jose De Oliveira; as well as
LAR Condominium Refurbishment Specialists (Lidio Romanin Construction Company Limited) and owner Tony Romanin.
A fourth company, CPL Interiors Ltd., was charged under the conspiracy provision of the Competition Act for its role in the alleged scheme.
The Bureau alleges that the accused conspired to commit fraud and rig bids for refurbishment contracts issued by private condominium corporations in the GTA between 2009 and 2014. The condominium corporations and the condominium owners who fund them are the alleged victims.
Generally speaking, bid-rigging schemes result in victims paying higher prices for goods and services.
Hi Marshall, do you know if any of that was actually proven in a court? I have not doubt that rigging bids in condoland and hiring consultants to create the scopes of work to narrow the field is another part of the rigging.
—R. Brampton
I believe that one company is cooperating with the Competition Bureau. There are news reports that can be found on the Internet.
—editor
This is absolutely marvellous news! Several years ago, I met with the competition Bureau people and I was able to give them some names of companies but I cannot recall what they were. They have been working on this for years therefore.
What surprises me is that the announcement is dated last year 2021.
AM Toronto
In BC the goverment mandates you to do a Depreciation report .
In our strata we hired Strata Engineering to that report . A few years later it’s sister company “Counterpoint” that shares the same principal puts in a unsolicited offer.
Wind up vote is around the corner but we are left with not enough money to buy back into the area .
Same s..diffrent pile.
This is also happening in B.C. AWM ALLIANCE is doing the same thing they're also colluding with POLYGON HOMES LTD and ADERA to void home warranties and sweep serious issues under the rug leaving you the buyer to pay for ALL warranty issues that come up. AWM ALLIANCE is also colluding with NLD CONSULTING to defraud unsuspecting strata lot owners in B.C.