Prosecutions and Seizures

Atlantic Region

Dartmouth businessman charged with immigration fraud

Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 14, 2013 — The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that a Dartmouth businessman has been charged with 56 counts under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. It is alleged that Hector Mantolino, owner and operator of Mantolino Property Services Ltd., developed false businesses and fraudulently submitted documents to Service Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and to the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration. As a result, the CBSA suspects that 28 foreign nationals working in the Halifax Regional Municipality were victims of this crime.

Mantolino has been charged with allegedly advising the foreign workers he hired to provide misleading and untruthful statements on their work permit applications. He was also charged with providing false statements to multiple Government of Canada departments regarding the employment conditions of the foreign workers, such as their rate of pay. Mantolino allegedly counselled the foreign workers to lie about their wages if they wanted to stay in Canada. Some of the hourly wages of the foreign workers were as low as $3.13 per hour. Following his arrest on April 10, 2013, Mantolino was released on conditions to not have contact with any of the foreign workers formally employed by his business.

"These significant charges demonstrate the CBSA's commitment to upholding the integrity of Canada's immigration programs," said Andrew LeFrank, Regional Director General of CBSA Atlantic Region. "The CBSA takes this issue very seriously and works closely with its partners to identify, investigate and prosecute those engaging in immigration fraud to the full extent of the law."

The CBSA Criminal Investigations Division is responsible for conducting investigations with respect to violations of the Customs Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and violations related to the importing of food, plants and animals that are restricted or prohibited in Canada. CBSA officers investigate border security offences, such as the use of fraudulent documents to gain access to Canada and immigration misrepresentation.

The CBSA also works closely with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada to prosecute those engaging in immigration fraud to the full extent of the law. To report immigration fraud in Canada, please call the Border Watch toll-free line at 1‑888-502-9060. All information is treated as confidential.

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