Airdrie Resident Charged with Fraud and Trafficking in Stolen Vehicles

An individual from Airdrie is facing multiple charges following an extensive investigation into a vehicle-related criminal operation. Authorities identified the suspect as Brooks Stella, a 26-year-old who is believed to be involved in fraudulent activities connected to his ownership of International Motor Cars, a dealership located in Calgary.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) auto theft unit, with assistance from the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), Airdrie RCMP, and Calgary Police Service, executed search warrants on August 28, 2023. The raids were conducted at three properties, including two dealerships operated by International Motor Cars, located in Calgary and Airdrie.

During the searches, law enforcement officers discovered three vehicles that had been reported stolen. These vehicles were found to have fraudulent vehicle identification numbers. “These vehicles had been sold through the dealership or were advertised for sale,” according to an RCMP news release. Additionally, another vehicle was reportedly determined to be proceeds of crime.

Brooks Stella is now charged with several offenses, including money laundering, possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of trafficking, fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, two counts of trafficking in property obtained by crime, and forgery. Police have contacted the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council (AMVIC) to reach out to customers of International Motor Cars.

In a related development, AMVIC had previously penalized Stella for engaging in unlicensed automotive business activities with another company, Calgary Powersports Inc., as of June 5. The regulatory body mandated Stella to “immediately cease engaging in a designated automotive business within the province of Alberta,” citing violations of Alberta’s Consumer Protection Act. AMVIC instructed Stella to dismantle all associated advertisements and cancel all consignment sales until proper licensing is obtained.

AMVIC declined to comment specifically on the case but confirmed awareness of the charges against Stella. The organization continues to encourage any consumers involved with International Motor Cars to file a complaint. As per the information, the dealership is no longer operational at its Calgary locations, following an eviction by its landlord for unpaid rent and other undisclosed losses.

Brooks Stella was released from custody with a commitment to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Airdrie on October 23, 2023. Authorities remain in the process of contacting customers who might have inadvertently purchased stolen or fraudulent vehicles from the dealership.