MEDIA RELEASE

Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Buffalo Field Office, Peter J. Ahearn, announces the arrests of three individuals and the execution of two search warrants in Niagara Falls, New York, related to the manufacture and sale of millions of dollars of counterfeit Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) tokens.

The FBI's Buffalo Division White Collar Crime Squadconducted a short term undercover operation, which centered around individuals residing in the United States (US) and Canada who were manufacturing and selling counterfeit TTC tokens. Based upon this operation, the FBI arrested Andrea Nicole Dawson of North York, Ontario, Canada, on Thursday, February 9, 2006, with charges pending against a second individual who is a US citizen of Niagara Falls, New York. Canadian law enforcement authorities arrested two Canadian citizens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Friday, February 3, 2006.

Dawson has a detention hearing before Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott today at 2:00PM. Dawson is being charged with a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §371 - Conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Federally authorized search warrants were executed at 404 Seventh Street, Apartment 8, Niagara Falls, New York, and at 5A Centre Court, Niagara Falls, New York. The search resulted in the seizure of approximately $1 million worth of TTC tokens. Since late 2004 it is estimated that this counterfeit token operation produced five million tokens -- representing a loss of approximately $10 million in Canadian funds over a two year period.

This matter will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gretchen Wylegala of the United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York.

It should be noted that the fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This investigation continues.

The following agencies assisted :

Canada Border Services Agency, Ontario, Canada
Customs & Border Protection, United States
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisville Division
Immigration & Customs Enforcement, United States
Niagara County, New York, Sheriff's Office, United States
Niagara Falls, New York, Police Department, United States
Niagara Regional Police Service, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Police Service, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Toronto Transit Commission Special Constables, Toronto, Ontario, Canada