Ontario Pastor Among 15 Charged in Alleged Fraud Ring Targeting Homelessness Program

A York Regional Police patch is shown in Aurora, Ont., on Dec. 19, 2022. The Canadian Press/Arlyn McAdorey

A Vaughan, Ont., pastor is among 15 people charged in an alleged fraud scheme that police say claimed money intended to help homeless people in the York Region.

York Regional Police launched an investigation on April 3, 2025, after receiving a report about fraud targeting the municipality’s Homeless Prevention Program, according to an April 14 release.

The investigation identified 15 suspects, including Vaughan pastor Isaac Oppong, 38, who was named the principal suspect.

Investigators say the alleged scheme involved fraudulent applications that claimed approximately $99,600 from the program between January and December of 2024.

The program is a provincially funded initiative delivered by York Region that helps residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness find or keep stable housing. It is aimed at low-income individuals and families who are not receiving benefits through Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program.

Oppong was a pastor at Miracle Arena for All Nations church between 2018 and 2025. Police say investigators believe he used his position to recruit others to participate in the fraud.

The investigation, dubbed Project Great One, was a coordinated effort between the York Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit and the Regional Municipality of York. Officers executed warrants at 12 homes and 10 vehicles, leading to the 15 arrests.

Oppong has been charged on 10 counts, including fraud, identity fraud, laundering proceeds of crime, possession of property obtained by crime, and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

The other 14 suspects, who range in age from 20 to 58, were handed similar charges, with some additionally charged with false pretence and using a forged document. The suspects included residents of Vaughan, Toronto, Burlington, Brampton, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Ajax, and St. Catherines.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and ask anyone with information to call the York Regional Police Financial Crimes Unit.

Miracle Arena made headlines in 2023 when the church, along with others in the Greater Toronto Area, provided shelter to refugee claimants unable to find available beds in the city’s shelter system. The church said it converted buses and tractor trailers into temporary shelters by installing beds in them, and helped people find shelter in dorms at Durham College.

The church had called for more government support at the time to help with the influx of African asylum seekers who had come to Vaughan, as well as Toronto and other surrounding areas.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said in August 2023 that the city was housing about 10,000 people in its shelter system, with newcomers to Canada accounting for around 3,300 of them. She said the city provided three churches with $50,000 to help offset costs of housing refugees.

Oppong, who was minister of Miracle Arena at the time, said in September 2023 that volunteers at Miracle Arena and other churches had not received any funding in the prior three months as they assisted refugees.