N.S. woman facing more than 150 fraud-related charges

A Dartmouth, N.S., woman facing more than 170 charges in connection with serial fraud will stay in jail for the time being.

A 47-year-old woman from Dartmouth, N.S., who was previously charged with more than 50 fraud-related offences is now facing more than 100 additional charges.

Police first searched a home on Joseph Young Street in Dartmouth on Aug. 28, 2024. During the search, officers seized hundreds of documents, including multiple medical files, mobile electronic devices and identification cards, as well as an unsecured rifle.

Officers arrested and charged Alissa Kathryn MacGillivary, also known as Alexandra Ryan, with more than 50 fraud-related offences at the time.

After reviewing the documents, investigators identified eight more organizations and people allegedly defrauded by MacGillivary.

To date, police say they have found more than 15 aliases and real identities used by MacGillivary. The RCMP says she also used forged documents to obtain financial benefits dating back to 1995.

“It’s currently estimated that MacGillivary has fraudulently obtained more than $100,000 since 2014,” reads a news release from RCMP.

The force says, at the request of investigators, MacGillivary went to the Cole Harbour RCMP detachment on Jan. 17, where she was arrested.

She has been charged with more than 100 additional offences, including:

- failure to comply with a release order

- extortion

- four counts of possession of property obtained by crime

- 21 counts of forgery

- 28 counts of use of forged documents

- 32 counts of possession of forged documents

- four counts of using mails to defraud

- two counts of fraud

- 10 counts of identity theft

- four counts of identity fraud

MacGillivary appeared in court and was remanded into custody. She is scheduled to return to Dartmouth provincial court Friday at 9:30 a.m.

Police say the investigation is ongoing. They are asking anyone who thinks they could be an alleged victim to contact them at 902-490-5020.

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