Who, what, when, where, why: The agence revenu canada is conducting a multi-year DOMINO investigation into alleged fraud linked to a pandemic wage subsidy; the probe launched in February 2021 (ET), an affidavit dated January 29 (ET) was filed in court, and seven searches on June 12, 2024 (ET) yielded dozens of devices and hundreds of documents as officials seek to establish who benefited and how the scheme operated.
Agence Revenu Canada probe: seized evidence and suspects
The investigation has collected a large trove of material: about forty electronic devices were initially seized and more than 21, 000 documents were obtained during the course of the DOMINO probe launched in February 2021 (ET). On June 12, 2024 (ET) authorities executed seven search warrants and seized 38 electronic devices in that single operation, six of them at the residence of one identified suspect in Laval, plus hundreds of paper records. An affidavit filed in court and signed by an investigator outlines those seizures and the ongoing forensic work.
Six suspects are the focus of the investigation; two are named in court documents: Peter Fiset and Kristina Rogic. Rogic is described in filings as the founder of an entertainment company that was removed from the provincial corporate register in 2021. The pair are identified in the affidavit as targets of allegations including fraud, laundering of proceeds of crime and conspiracy, with a separate allegation for Rogic under the Income Tax Act related to attempts to obtain subsidy payments.
Immediate reactions and institutional response
Adam Blondin, spokesperson for Agence du revenu du Canada, said: “The vulnerabilities identified in this file have since been corrected. ” He added: “The Agence du revenu du Canada continuously strengthens its authentication controls to block the methods used by fraudsters. ” Those statements frame the agency’s public stance as the investigation continues.
Forensic teams report that two seized devices remain locked by encryption or passwords and cannot yet be examined. Where devices were accessible, examiners uncovered text-message exchanges between the two named suspects and evidence of communications with additional redacted individuals. Investigators note that suspects used technical measures — including virtual private networks and multiple disposable phones — to hinder identification of actors and locations involved in the alleged scheme.
What to watch next
Court filings show the agency has requested authority to retain specific paper documents seized from a suspect until September 30 (ET) because the items may form part of evidence should charges be laid. At the height of the investigation, six investigators were assigned full time, supported by two evidence-management specialists and additional personnel on demand. Key unknowns remain redacted in filings: the total alleged loss, the number of purported victims and the count of transactions under review are not disclosed in the documents available in court records.
Expect the investigation to continue methodically: forensic analysis of unlocked devices will proceed, contested motions over retained evidence will move through the courts on scheduled hearing dates, and the agency’s strengthened controls will be tested in parallel. The agence revenu canada will be under scrutiny as it balances probe integrity with public interest in clarity about the scope and scale of the alleged fraud.
