Man with alleged Russian mafia ties pleads guilty to fraud charges in Saskatoon court [Video]

A man with alleged ties to a Russian organized crime group pleaded guilty to several fraud charges in Saskatoon Provincial Court this week.

Georgian national Alexander Alexidze, 49, was arrested in May 2023 in an apartment in Saskatoon’s Fairhaven neighbourhood. Saskatoon police said officers seized multiple false and forged documents in a search of the apartment executed after his arrest.

On Tuesday, Alexidze entered a guilty plea in provincial court.

His defence lawyer Gregory Curtis says he pleaded guilty to theft of groceries, possession of another person’s identity documents, possession of stolen credit cards, possession of a vehicle knowing it was obtained by the commission of a criminal offence, and possession of a citizenship card for a fraudulent purpose.

Alexidze also pleaded guilty to defrauding Saskatchewan Social Services and Health in an amount exceeding $5,000.

His sentencing is scheduled for April 1.