The RCMP has completed a 6-year investigation into an alleged fraud scheme at the CRA by laying 142 charges against 8 former CRA officials and 7 businessmen. Launched in 2008, the investigation looked into allegations that senior CRA auditors received bribes to turn a blind eye to millions of dollars in unpaid taxes and fraudulent tax credit claims.
According to the last round of charges, 3 CRA auditors (Americo Comparelli, Adriano Furgiuele and Antonio Girardi) were phantom shareholders in a firm called Delvex, that assisted firms apply for tax credits, including fraudulent SR&ED tax credit claims. Delvex is alleged to have collected a quarter of the total value of the SR&ED claims that were submitted.
The RCMP also announced that they have laid charges against former CRA officials Adriano Furgiuele and Nicola Iammarrone in relation to an alleged bribe from businessman Francesco Bertucci. According to the RCMP statement, Mr. Bertucci allegedly evaded payment of more than $2-million in federal taxes in relation to a business investment loss after securing the co-operation of the former CRA officials.
Revenue Minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay said in a statement that the government will hold CRA officials to the “highest ethical standards.”
