Man accused in $240,000 Alberta student loan fraud backs out of plea deal

A Calgary man accused of running a $240,000 student loan scam has backed out of his planned guilty plea and will now go on trial later this year. 

Dave Guylenz Mitchell Beauvais, 34, faces charges of money laundering and fraud over $5,000 stemming from an alleged scam that ran from 2017 to 2020.

According to the court docket, Beauvais was to plead guilty on Wednesday, although it's not clear which charges he planned to admit guilt on.

Instead, Beauvais appeared via video link and defence lawyer Gavin Wolch withdrew as counsel, citing a "breakdown in the relationship."

Plea deal 'no longer on the table'

Beauvais, who now lives in Quebec, indicated he is in talks with a new lawyer, but prosecutor Shelley Smith told the accused he will now have to go on trial. 

"I'd like to make it clear to Mr. Beauvais: the offer for resolution is now no longer on the table," said Smith.

• $240K student loan fraud scheme busted, say Calgary police

Court of King's Bench Justice David Labrenz reminded Beauvais that he has a trial date set for Oct. 1. 

Police allege Beauvais and a second man, Kader Dahchi, defrauded Alberta Student Aid and several post-secondary institutions over a three-year period.

The pair is accused of stealing the identities of 21 people whose personal information was compromised in data breaches.

Loans worth $25,000 to 38,000 each

According to investigators, the men enrolled in post-secondary schools, applied for student loans and opened bank accounts while using the stolen identities. 

Beauvias and Dahchi are alleged to have attended the schools, posing as students with the fraudulent identities in order to satisfy loan payment requirements.

Each fake student generated loans between $25,000 and $38,000.

The investigation kicked off in 2019 when a peace officer with the Advanced Education Special Investigations team noticed inconsistencies with several student loan applications. 

The officer contacted Calgary police, and after a two-year investigation, charges were laid against the men. 

Dahchi is still wanted on warrants.