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Prelim set for man accused of bilking $2.6 million from investors

Dec 5, 2018 | 3:20 PM

A Sylvan Lake man accused of defrauding multiple people in excess of $2 million will face a preliminary hearing next year.

Dane Michael Skinner, 54, faces counts of fraud, laundering proceeds of crime uttering threats.

The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred between December 5, 2007 and February 28, 2013 in Lacombe and involved two numbered companies (1518869 Alberta Ltd / 1367158 Alberta Ltd) as well as N.E.X.T. Legacy Technologies Ltd.

Mounties allege Skinner misrepresented and advertised a “revolutionary fracking product” which resulted in lucrative financial gains. As a result, numerous victims were enticed to invest in his company with losses to those investors reported to be over $2.6 million.

Blackfalds RCMP were notified of the alleged offences in September 2013 and began their investigation at that time with the assistance of Red Deer Financial Crimes Unit. Skinner was arrested and charged in July of this year.

“This fraud was very elaborate, and consequently, our investigation has been very elaborate and has involved substantial resources and time,” Constable Bill Lewadniuk of the Financial Crimes Unit said at the time of Skinner’s arrest.

Three days have been set aside for a preliminary hearing in Red Deer, Sept. 23 – 25, 2019.