RCMP Charges Ottawa Federal Consultant in Fraud Case
Community Safety Alert – Federal Contract Fraud Investigation in Ottawa
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Federal Policing – Central Region has laid fraud charges against a federal government consultant based in Ottawa, Ontario, in connection with alleged overbilling on multiple federal contracts. The investigation focuses on consulting work carried out for Shared Services Canada over a two-year period.
According to the RCMP, the consultant and his company are alleged to have submitted misleading timesheets for work performed on several federal contracts between May 2020 and June 2022, resulting in significant overbilling to the Government of Canada. The matter was first identified by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) and later referred to the RCMP for criminal investigation.
Official RCMP Details
PSPC initiated an internal review in the summer of 2021 after concerns were raised about a consultant working simultaneously on five Shared Services Canada contracts. These contracts were held by different private-sector firms and overseen by five separate technical authorities.
Evidence gathered by PSPC suggested that the same consultant was submitting timesheets that did not accurately reflect the work performed, leading to overbilling on multiple contracts. PSPC then referred the file to the RCMP for a potential criminal investigation.
The RCMP’s Sensitive and International Investigations (SII) Unit opened an investigation to determine whether fraud had occurred. Investigators:
- Collected statements from prime contractors involved in the Shared Services Canada contracts.
- Reviewed and compared timesheets across multiple contracts to confirm alleged overbilling.
- Identified that, while collecting HST on services, the contractor did not remit those funds to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Accused Individual and Company
- Name: Andrew McDermott
- Age: 62
- Residence: Ottawa, Ontario
- Company: AM Government Consulting Inc.
Charges Laid
The RCMP has charged the accused and his company with the following offences:
- Two (2) counts of Fraud over $5,000, contrary to Section 380(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
Court Appearance
- Court: Ottawa Courthouse
- Address: 161 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario
- Date: May 5, 2026
The RCMP has acknowledged the assistance of its federal partners, including PSPC and the CRA, for their cooperation during this investigation.
CrimeCanada.ca Safety Perspective
From a CrimeCanada.ca standpoint, allegations of fraud involving public contracts are a serious concern for communities across Ontario. Misuse of government funds ultimately impacts public services and public trust. While this case centres on federal consulting work in Ottawa, similar financial crimes can affect municipalities of all sizes, from larger centres to smaller communities like those examined in our Ontario crime and safety profiles.
Residents and businesses who work with public-sector or large institutional clients should keep accurate, verifiable records of hours worked, invoices, and tax remittances. If you are unsure about your legal obligations regarding billing or tax collection, seeking a free legal consultation on fraud and financial crime issues can help you stay compliant and avoid unintended legal risk. CrimeCanada.ca remains committed to monitoring financial crime trends and sharing verified safety alerts and enforcement updates so Ontarians can stay informed and uphold integrity in both public and private sector dealings.
Official Source & Community Safety
This safety alert is based on an official release from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). CrimeCanada.ca aggregates and analyzes this data to keep the ontario community informed, aware, and safe. We are an independent safety data aggregator and not the original creators of the underlying incident report.
Read the full official release here: RCMP Official Statement.