A B.C. gaming inspector had a May 26 court appearance on 37 immigration fraud, bribery and bogus licence charges related to alleged corruption at Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse.
Darren Scott Young, 46, is described in court documents as an inspector with the B.C. Gaming Policy Enforcement Branch.
He is charged with inducing, aiding or abetting or counselling Barbara Anderson Heads and Phillip Hall to violate the federal Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) by hiring Cristhian Hernandez Barreto and Fernando Carapia Sepulveda without authorization under the act.
Those actions are alleged to have occurred in Vancouver May 11, 2018 to Aug. 19, 2019.
Between May 8 and Aug. 19, 2019, it’s alleged Young committed the same offence relating to Hall employing Oscar Navarro Caravantes.
Between April 25, 2019 and Aug. 19, 2019, it’s alleged Young committed the same offence in Vancouver relating to Cindy Krasner employing Juan Bedollo Orozco.
The same charge is alleged relating to Melvyn Snow and Barbara Anderson Heads employing Jesus Lemus Garcia with event dates between May 11, 2019 and Aug. 19, 2019.
Between March and August 2019, it’s alleged Young violated IRPA in relation to Mark Cloutier employing Jesus Garcia Barragan, Adan Cruz Villegas and Giovanni Lopez Cruz.
Between May 4 and Aug. 19, 2019, it’s alleged Young violated IRPA in relation to Snow employing Fern Sandoval Rubalcava
Between May 8 and Aug. 19, 2019, it’s alleged Young violated IRPA in relation to John Snow and Melvyn Snow employing Alfredo Orozco Diaz.
Between May 4 and Aug, 19, 2019, it’s alleged Young violated IRPA in relation to Snow employing Penelope Rivera Covarrubias.
Between March 29 and Aug, 19, 2019, it’s alleged Young violated IRPA in relation to Craig MacPherson employing Moises Maldonado Romero.
Between March and Aug, 19, 2019, it’s alleged Young violated IRPA in relation to Patricia Jarvis employing Brandon Carrion Gomez and Elizabet Calderon.
Between June 13 and Aug, 19, 2019, it’s alleged Young violated IRPA in relation to Robert Maybin employing Juan Medina Vilada.
Accepting a benefit
It’s alleged that Young received the following benefits from people having dealings with the branch without consent from the director of B.C. Gaming Policy Enforcement Branch:
- $695 from Krasner;
- $2,085 from Cloutier;
- $695 from Heads;
- $750 from Barragan;
- $693 from MacPherson, and;
- $695 from Jarvis
Multiple people mentioned in court records are connected with racing at Hastings racecourse.
Fraudulent racing licences
It's also alleged that Young committed fraud in connection with his office between March and August 2019 by issuing fraudulent branch racing division licences to Barreto, Sepulveda, Caravantes, Orozco, Garcia, Barragan, Villegas, Cruz, Rubalcava, Diaz, Covarrubias, Romero, Gomez and Calderon.
Young’s lawyer Thomas Doust made an appearance for his client in Vancouver provincial court on May 26. At that time, Young may be arraigned and a plea entered.
Justice of the peace Matthew Fong suggested scheduling a pre-trial conference as well.
“That’s a good idea,” Doust said.
