18 additional charges for London financial advisor accused of $2M fraud
CBC
A former London financial advisor accused of defrauding clients of nearly $2 million has had a total of 18 new charges laid against him since his arrest in early September.
Court documents show the new charges being faced by Robert Randall Hawken, 66, are individualized to each of his alleged victims, many of which are couples that were named in the initial two charges filed after his arrest.
Hawken was first arrested on Sep. 12, 2024, with police alleging victims were defrauded of a collective $1,988,000 between 2003 and 2024. The financial advisor who formerly operated Dufferin Financial Group is accused of collecting investments from victims without ever investing the money he obtained, police said at the time.
Initial charges laid against Hawken were fraud over $5,000 and posession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.
The bulk of the new charges were filed to the London Ontario Court of Justice on Oct. 3. A final charge was filed with the court on Nov. 1, with court documents pertaining to that final charge showing Hawken was again arrested on Oct. 23 and released on an undertaking.
All 18 are charges of fraud over $5,000 with the stated victims being couples, individuals, and in one case an organization.
Several of the newly filed charges list the same complainants as the seven civil suits that have also been filed against Hawken this year. Many of the civil suits list his wife, Cheryl Hawken, as a co-defendant. Some also list Asmaral Holdings, a company Hawken owns.
Since new charges were laid, the list of complainants against Hawken has grown from 24 to 28.
The accused is due for an appearance in court on Nov. 26.
With the final days of 2025 rapidly falling to the wayside, Canadians are likely taking stock of the last 12 months.
A new study finds that more than half of the most dangerous winter roads in Canada are in Ontario, with weather, wildlife, and urban factors contributing to collisions.
Welcome to everyone's least favourite time of year for air travel.
For some, the holiday season means packing their bags to spend time with loved ones, some of whom are half a world away.
The IWK is urging people in the Maritimes to get vaccinated for the flu after reporting a big increase in the number of children coming to emergency rooms with flu-like symptoms.
J.D. Irving has secured an agreement to sell power from the large wind farm it's building in western New Brunswick to N.B. Power.
One of the most influential voices advocating for Quebec's Lower North Shore region has fallen silent. Randy Jones, a political figure and ardent defender of his region, has died. He was 69.
Some health-care leaders are questioning how Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew can confidently declare his government will end long waits for health-care services by the end of 2026.
The Carlyle Observer, a small-town weekly newspaper, has folded after nearly 90 years in operation.
Trevor Allen didn’t worry about who had the most extravagant decorations or brightest bulbs.
Alberta's transportation minister could hear the horns blaring from inside his office.
A single northbound lane on the long-awaited Pattullo Bridge replacement has opened to traffic, marking the first step in a phased opening process.
The Yukon has been grappling with an extreme cold weather system that's pushing the power grid to the brink because it can't keep up with demand.