Sports bets were made at two Sault Ste. Marie gas bars in early 2024 using fraudulently obtained gift cards, police say.

A specific dollar amount of the gift cards used was not available “as there were multiple transactions across many locations in the province,” said Gosia Puzio of Ontario Provincial Police corporate communications in an email to The Sault Star.

Ontario Provincial Police’s Investigation and Enforcement Bureau was alerted by Ontario Lottery and Gaming to suspicious Proline betting activity at several gas bars in March 2024.

Joshua Silva, 36, of Thunder Bay, was charged with fraud over $5,000, laundering proceeds of crime, conspiracy, identity theft, forgery, utter forged document and possession of proceeds obtained by crime.

His court date is Monday in Thunder Bay.

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