Local businessman facing multiple fraud-related charges

By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on November 18, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

The owner of a Lethbridge mechanic shop accused of committing numerous fraud-related offences, has been ordered to personally attend court next month if he hasn’t retained a lawyer to assist him.

Lethbridge lawyer Marcus Mueller appeared in Lethbridge provincial court Thursday, but pointed out he could only act as an agent for the accused, Grant Ryan Stevenson of Stirling, because he had not yet received a retainer fee. The matter had to be adjourned in September for the same reason.

Stevenson, who owns Fisher Diesel, was charged earlier this year after police with the economic crimes unit began an investigation into a Lethbridge business in 2021. Police allege more than two dozen people were defrauded of $500,000 between 2018 and 2021 through business dealings that included credit card fraud and the advanced payment of fees for services that were not provided.

Stevenson, 40, faces more than 60 charges, including theft over $5,000, unauthorized use of credit card, possession of the proceeds of crime, use of a public seal, forgery, uttering a forged document, false pretense over $5,000, mischief over $5,000, fraud under $5,000 and fraud over $5,000.

During Thursday’s hearing, which Stevenson was not required to attend, Crown Prosecutor Clayton Giles said he is working to “whittle down” the number of charges and may provide the court with replacement charges when the matter returns to court Dec. 15.

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