Scammer released from jail

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This article was published 11/04/2023 (1261 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man who scammed Brandon residents out of hundreds of dollars to feed his substance addiction last year has been released after spending nearly three months in jail.

Blake Tacan pleaded guilty to multiple fraud and theft charges in court Thursday.

Last year, Tacan used Facebook Marketplace, an online platform to purchase and sell items, to co-ordinate fake deals with buyers and sell stolen goods.

In August, a woman thought she was purchasing a television that was advertised on Marketplace. She messaged the seller, and the parties agreed the woman would e-transfer the seller and meet at an address to pick up the TV.

Prior to the woman’s arrival at the address, she sent the e-transfer of $350, which was accepted by the recipient. However, when the woman arrived at the address there was no one there. The woman called police and their investigation led them to a man who said he was paid $20 by Tacan to collect the money from buyers.

Later that same day, another woman attempted to purchase a Samsung phone that was advertised on Marketplace. This time, Tacan used his own name for the Facebook profile.

Again, the woman messaged the seller and they agreed to meet at Sobeys to complete the exchange. Before the meeting, the woman transferred $150 to Tacan. Once she was at the south-end Sobeys, Tacan messaged her, saying he was at the west-end location.

The woman then told him she would go to the grocery store in the west end to meet him, but before she made it there she received another message from Tacan, which stated that the account and profile name were fake.

“Thanks for da [sic] money,” the message read.

Months later in October, police were notified that an expensive bike had been stolen from outside of Sobeys on 18th Street. The store provided video surveillance of the theft of the bike, which was valued at $1,200. A police investigation identified Tacan as the thief.

Then in December, Tacan returned to Marketplace, landing him again in trouble with police.

An owner of a home construction company found a number of tools advertised on the social media site, which he recognized as equipment that had been stolen from a job site earlier that month.

The tools had unique engravings, the company owner told police, and he was confident they were his tools being sold by a seller with Tacan listed as the Facebook user. Police then used a fake Facebook account to arrange a time and place to meet with Tacan to purchase the tools.

When police met up with Tacan later that day, they found him to be in possession of the stolen tools and a stolen jacket.

The construction company’s tools were stolen when a trailer on a job site was broken into, but prosecutors made clear that there were no allegations against Tacan for the break-in.

Defence lawyer Bob Harrison told the court his client’s actions were fuelled by an addiction to methamphetamine.

“So again, crystal meth rears its ugly head, as it does on a daily basis in this court,” the defence lawyer said. “It wasn’t for profit; it was to support his drug habit.”

Harrison said that Tacan, 29, had a difficult life growing up — his father was an alcoholic and Tacan witnessed domestic violence toward his mother.

Tacan is on a waiting list for treatment and has plans to become a plumber to support his two young children, according to Harrison.

“Those are all achievable goals if he works hard,” the defence said.

Tacan, who appeared in court by video from Brandon Correctional Centre, declined to comment.

Judge John Combs further acknowledged the recurrence of meth addiction in cases before the court and encouraged Tacan to get help through Addictions Foundation of Manitoba.

“We’re seeing far too many people in this courtroom who are resorting to crime to pay for a drug habit, in particular methamphetamine,” Combs said.

Tacan received time served for his charges and was ordered to pay restitution, including $350 for the TV, $150 for the cellphone and $1,200 for the bike.

» gmortfield@brandonsun.com