Toronto woman, 47, charged in alleged fraud of more than $500,000 from registered charity

TORONTO — The Toronto Police Service has announced the arrest of a 47-year-old woman following an investigation into financial fraud that allegedly cost a registered charity more than half a million Canadian dollars.

She was working for the charity when she allegedly carried out a series of fraudulent transactions that led to the organization's funds being diverted illegally.

Police confirmed that the woman faces three criminal charges: fraud, using a forged document and laundering the proceeds of crime. They did not disclose the name of the affected charity or the services it provides.

Who is the accused employee?

Toronto police identified the woman as Annabelle Menezes, 47, a resident of the city.

She was arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. The police service made the details of the case public on Monday, Nov. 9, through its Financial Crimes Unit.

Authorities did not say how long the accused worked for the charity, what position she held or what financial authority she had.

Police also did not disclose when the irregularities were discovered or who made the initial report, leaving important details about the start of the investigation unannounced so far.

Charges of fraud, forgery and money laundering

Menezes faces three charges under Canada's Criminal Code. The first is fraud over $5,000, the legal category for major fraud offences.

The second charge relates to using a forged document or presenting it as genuine, while the third relates to laundering proceeds suspected of being linked to criminal activity.

Police said the suspected transactions caused financial losses of more than $500,000 for the charity, but did not specify the final amount precisely.

They also did not explain how the transactions were carried out or what type of documents are the subject of the forgery charge, and did not publish details about the financial accounts that may have been used.

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Court date for the accused

Menezes is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice, located at 10 Armoury St. in Toronto, on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2026.

Police set the hearing for 2 p.m. in Courtroom 202, to consider the court proceedings related to the case.

It is important to stress that the charges against her do not amount to a conviction. The accused is presumed innocent until her responsibility is proven in court.

Her arrest in October and the announcement of the case in November also do not necessarily mean the suspected transactions took place during that period, because police did not specify when they occurred.

Major loss for a charity that has not been named

Toronto police did not announce the name of the charity or details of its activities. They also did not say whether the financial loss will affect the services it provides to beneficiaries.

There is so far no official information on whether any of the money has been recovered, or whether other people are suspected of involvement in the transactions under investigation.

The case highlights the importance of financial oversight within charitable organizations, which depend on transparent management of funds to maintain the trust of donors and beneficiaries.

Well-known preventive measures include separating the responsibilities for approving and making payments, reviewing records independently and verifying financial documents.

However, police did not link the announced incident to the absence of any specific oversight measure within the affected charity, so no particular administrative failure can be asserted before further findings emerge.

Police ask the public for information

The Toronto Police Service's Financial Crimes Unit called on anyone with information that could help the investigation to call 416-808-7300.

Police published the case under reference number 2026-707531, which can be used when providing information related to the investigation.

In its statement, the police service did not announce any other victims or additional arrest warrants, and did not say whether it will later disclose the identity of the charity.

The case remains at an early stage in the courts. The confirmed facts are limited to the accused's arrest, the three charges against her and the announcement of alleged losses of more than half a million dollars.