The front gates of Miracle Arena For All Nations, an evangelical Christian church in Vaughan, Ont., on Tuesday.Photography by Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
York Regional Police have charged 15 people in connection with what they say were fraudulent claims to a homelessness prevention program, including a former pastor who was allegedly the architect of the scam.
Investigators say the former pastor, Isaac Oppong, used his position at an evangelical Christian church in Vaughan, Ont., to recruit others to participate in the alleged $100,000 scheme.
“We believe that he may have been able to leverage this in order to have some of the additional co-accused also be part of this,” said Constable James Dickson. “We believe him to be the principal suspect that has caused the spider webbing of this fraud.”
Mr. Oppong, 38, was a pastor at Miracle Arena for All Nations from 2018 until last fall. He faces 10 charges, including fraud, identity fraud, laundering proceeds of crime, possession of property obtained by crime and conspiracy to commit an offence. A court document alleges he impersonated six people in applications to the homelessness program.
Mr. Oppong and his lawyer did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.
Church officials said they had no knowledge of the alleged fraud until police informed them of their investigation in November. Mr. Oppong was arrested in December.
“The alleged conduct was undertaken independently and without the knowledge, authorization, or involvement of the Church,” the church said in a statement.
Officials at Miracle Arena for All Nations say they had no knowledge of the alleged fraud until police informed them of their investigation in November.
Police allege the scheme targeted the Regional Municipality of York’s homelessness prevention program, which provides financial assistance for housing costs to residents who are either homeless or at risk of losing their homes.
York Region staff noticed “unusual and suspicious activity” in the program in late 2024, said Patrick Casey, a spokesperson for the region.
The region notified police after an internal review found $99,600 in fraudulent claims that year.
“These are serious allegations,” Mr. Casey said in a statement. “Unfortunately, fraud has become increasingly complex, taking advantage of people’s trust and good intentions.”
The 14 other people arrested in the investigation, dubbed Project Great One, face charges that include fraud, identity fraud and laundering proceeds of crime.
“Everyone profited by misrepresenting their situation and taking funds from the region when they did not qualify,” Constable Dickson said.
Financial crimes investigators have identified at least one person whose identity was used to apply to the program who was not aware of the application, he said.
The investigation – which began a year ago – is continuing and officers believe there may be additional victims, Constable Dickson said. Police are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.
“There’s still lots of investigative steps that need to be taken. Frauds are complex,” he said.
Constable Dickson said several of those accused in the case attended Miracle Arena while Mr. Oppong was a pastor there.
Mr. Oppong helped lead the church’s efforts to feed and house asylum seekers, which started in the summer of 2023 after a growing number of refugee claimants were turned away from Toronto’s full shelter system amid a fight over costs between all three levels of government.
Mr. Oppong spoke to York Regional council in early 2024, alleging the church’s requests for services to help newcomers from Africa were being ignored.
With research from Stephanie Chambers