Achi news desk-
A man with alleged ties to a Russian organized crime group pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges in Saskatoon Provincial Court this week.
Georgian citizen Alexander Alexidze, 49, was arrested in May 2023 in an apartment in Saskatoon’s Fairhaven neighbourhood. Saskatoon police said officers seized several forged and forged documents during a search of the apartment executed after his arrest.
On Tuesday, Alexidze pleaded guilty in provincial court.
His defense lawyer Gregory Curtis says he pleaded guilty to theft of goods, possession of another person’s identification, possession of stolen credit cards, possession of a vehicle knowing it was received by committing a crime, and having a citizenship card in his possession. fraudulent purpose.
Alexidze also pleaded guilty to defrauding Saskatchewan Health and Social Services in an amount of more than $5,000.
His sentencing is scheduled for April 1.
Alexidze has faced similar charges in the past.
In 2015, he was arrested in Cleveland and convicted of visa fraud. He served nine months in prison before being deported by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to face charges of multiple identity theft and fraud in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, according to an ICE news release.
ICE described Alexidze as a “documented Russian mafia associate” who was deported to Canada to face charges for crimes allegedly committed between 2013 and 2015, some under the alias Alex Row.
Curtis said he could not comment on whether there were outstanding charges in other jurisdictions as he did not have “direct confirmation.”
