Winnipeg Police Service

December 12, 2019

Winnipeg Police Service Media Release
For Immediate Release

Prepaid Credit Card – Fraud Advisory

The Winnipeg Police Service has recently been made aware of fraudulent activity involving prepaid credit cards that are often sold at retail stores.

A scammer will steal inactive prepaid credit cards (in their packaging) from a store. They will then replace the real credit card with a blank or used credit card. Sometimes a sticker or paper will be applied to the blank card to make it appear legitimate. They will then re-seal the packaging and place them back in the store. 

The fake card often cannot be seen from within the packaging, and an unassuming customer or cashier may not notice the package has been tampered with. Most prepaid credit cards are activated at the time of purchase using a magnetic strip on the packaging – not the card.

Example of a prepaid credit card that has been swapped.
Note that the fraudulent blank card has a paper/sticker affixed to the rear of it.

The scammer will later try to use the card, hoping that it will become active when a customer purchases the tampered packaging. Many customers may not realize the card has been swapped until after the holidays (if they were purchased as a gift).

When purchasing prepaid credit cards, please carefully examine the packaging. If you notice anything unusual, please alert a store employee or contact the prepaid card’s vendor. Anyone purchasing them as a holiday gift may wish to open the packaging beforehand to confirm the card’s authenticity.

Reports of tampered prepaid gift cards can be made to the Winnipeg Police Service, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and/or the vendor of the card.

Child Sexual Abuse Imagery – Arrest: R19-58294

In February 2019, an adult male residing in Winnipeg uploaded eight videos containing child pornography. The videos consisted of young girls between the ages of five and eleven. In September 2019, the male uploaded and shared these videos on the Internet via a social media app.

Social media administrators became aware of the images and reported them to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States. The internet protocol address was traced to a residence in Winnipeg. NCMEC forwarded the information to the RCMP National Child Exploitation and Crime Centre in Ottawa. 

As a result, members of the Winnipeg Police Internet Child Exploitation Unit were notified and entered into an investigation. 

On November 7, 2019, members of the Internet Child Exploitation Unit, Technical Crimes Unit and Tactical Support Team, executed a search warrant at a residence in the Norwood West area of Winnipeg.  Electronic devices were seized for analysis. The devices were found to contain various images and videos of child pornography.

On December 11, 2019, John Edward Machowski, a 32-year-old male, was arrested. He has been charged with:

- Possession of Child Pornography
- Imports, Distributes, Sells or Possess for the Purpose of Distribution or Sale any Child Pornography

He has been released from custody on a Recognizance.

Information or tips regarding the online sexual exploitation of children can be made at https://www.cybertip.ca/.

Financial Robberies – Arrest: C19-283404

Members of the Winnipeg Police Service have arrested a male after robberies at three banks in Winnipeg.

On December 3, 2019, at approximately 4:05 p.m., a male suspect entered a bank in the first 100 block of Lombard Place while concealing his identity and robbed the business using a note.

On December 10, 2019, at approximately 10:30 a.m., a male suspect entered a bank in the 1500 block of Ness Avenue while concealing his identity and robbed the business using a note.

On December 11, 2019, at approximately 4:35 p.m., a male suspect entered a bank in the 600 block of Notre Dame Avenue while concealing his identity and armed with a knife. He approached a counter where a 34-year-old female customer was cashing a cheque and robbed both her and the business. During the robbery, the customer was assaulted.

With the assistance of the bank’s security guard and another customer, the suspect was taken to the ground and held for police. Central District General Patrol members attended and took the male into custody.

Members of the Major Crimes Unit continued with the investigations.

Lee Patterson, a 53-year-old male, has been charged with:

- Robbery (x4)
- Disguise with Intent (x3)
- Possession of a Weapon

He was detained in custody.

Weapons/Utter Threats – Arrest C19-289916

On December 11, 2019, at approximately 9:00 p.m., West District General Patrol members, along with the Tactical Support Team, responded to the area of Pembina Highway and McGillivray Boulevard for a report of a male swinging a knife in the middle of the intersection. The male had also stabbed the hood of a vehicle and threatened to kill the driver.

Upon arrival, the male confronted officers with a fighting stance. He then dropped the knife and approached officers, failing to comply with their commands. A conducted electrical weapon (“Taser”) was used to safely take the male into custody.

Jeremy Brad Barker, a 35-year-old male, has been charged with:

- Uttering Threats - Cause Death or Bodily Harm
- Possession of a Weapon
- Mischief Under $5,000/Obstruct in Enjoyment
- Fail to Comply with Probation Order

He was detained in custody.

 

Community Notification - High-Risk Sex Offender

The Manitoba Integrated High-Risk Sex Offender Unit (MIHRSOU) is a joint forces unit of the Winnipeg Police Service and the RCMP. MIHRSOU today provides information regarding Apay OGOUK, 35 years of age, a convicted sex offender who is considered at risk to re-offend in a sexual manner against all females, both children and adults.

Apay OGOUK was recently released from Headingley Correctional Centre and is residing in Winnipeg.

Apay OGOUK is subject to a lifetime weapons prohibition order and supervised probation order.

Apay OGOUK has a criminal record for five counts of aggravated sexual assault, assault, and obstruct justice. Although he participated in some treatment programming in the past, Apay OGOUK is still considered at risk to re-offend in a sexual manner. All females are at risk.

 

Background information: Apay OGOUK is a 35-year-old male with a criminal record for five counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of assault and obstruct justice.

Apay OGOUK’s sexual offences took place in Winnipeg and Calgary between 2006 and 2010. Some of the victims were females ages 13, 15, and 16.

Apay OGOUK was arrested and detained in 2010. On May 23, 2014, he was convicted in Calgary, Alberta, of two counts of aggravated sexual assault and was sentenced to five years (which included credit for pre-sentence custody). When that sentence was completed, OGOUK was transferred to Manitoba, where he was convicted of three additional counts of aggravated sexual assault on December 11, 2014, and received an additional prison term of 7 years (which includes pre-trial custody credit of 3 years and 6 months).

Apay OGOUK was released from Grande Cache Institution, Alberta on April 10, 2017, and was subject to a full public notification in Manitoba.

Apay OGOUK was subsequently convicted of two counts of assault on June 21, 2019, receiving a sentence of one day (in addition to pre-trial custody credit of 45 days) in addition to a two year supervised probation order. The victim was an adult female.

Apay OGOUK was convicted on July 4, 2019, of obstruct justice and received a sentence of 18 months (which includes pre-trial custody credit of 363 days) and two years probation, until June 20, 2021. OGOUK contacted the adult female victim numerous times in an attempt to have the victim alter her evidence regarding a criminal matter and obstruct justice.

Apay OGOUK is subject to a lifetime weapons prohibition order.

While incarcerated, OGOUK participated in some sex offender programming but is still considered at risk to re-offend in a sexual manner against all females, both adults and children.
OGOUK is residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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