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Heartbreak hotel: alleged fraudster arrested sleeping in car outside Nanaimo motel

Mar 1, 2018 | 11:09 AM

Nanaimo RCMP arrested a man accused in a series of heartless scams against women.

Cst. Gary O’Brien said Jordan Shepherd, 34, was arrested around 2:30 a.m. March 1 sleeping in a car outside a south end motel.

“We often check cars in hotel (parking lots) because sometimes they’re stolen. When the plate was run there was a note on the file that the vehicle was taken without the owner’s consent. So they followed up on that and found Mr. Shepherd inside that vehicle.”

Just one day before his arrest, RCMP issued a release saying Shepherd was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant in relation to at least seven fraud charges in Nanaimo, Ladysmith and New Westminster. It’s alleged he would lure women into relationships and then scam them out of money.

O’Brien said the story drew a huge reaction and was the highest trending story ever on their Facebook page.

“It touched a chord with a lot of people because he was taking advantage of women. He would allegedly enter into relationships with people and then take their money and just disappear. He left a lot of people in financial ruin, so there’s a wake of trouble behind him. It’s significant he’s off the streets and he’s being held accountable.”

One additional victim came forward in the last 24 hours and O’Brien said he “fully expected” to hear from more women.

Shepherd is being held in custody until his next court appearance on March 5.

 

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