The province is seeking the forfeiture of jewelry, designer purses, shoes, clothing and more than $70,000 in cash, all linked to a series of break-ins in Richmond and Burnaby.
In a notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court earlier this month, the province’s Director of Civil Forfeiture alleges the money, which includes both Canadian and U.S. cash, along with the other items are the “proceeds and instruments of unlawful activity.”
The “unlawful activity” includes possession of property obtained by crime, breaking and entering and failure to declare taxable income, according to the lawsuit.
The suit names Ashley Elizabeth Phoenix and Shane Brandon Lee Takakenew, as defendants. Both had a last known address in Richmond, and Takakenew is also alleged to be a member of the REDD Alert gang.
The claims have not been proven in court, and neither Phoenix or Takakenew have filed a response to the province’s suit.
During an investigation into the crime spree, Richmond Mounties identified Takakenew and his father as suspects in 12 break-and-enters and two attempted break and enters, which largely took place in Richmond between Aug. 23, 2018 and Feb. 27, 2019, according to the court document. One of the break-ins listed in the suit took place in Burnaby.
“Shane Takakenew and his father were recorded on surveillance video committing the Break and Enters and attempted Break and Enters, wearing distinctive articles of clothing,” the court document reads.
A search of online court records shows Takakenew is facing a number of charges related to the break-and-enters described in the civil forfeiture suit.
While Phoenix has not been charged, the court document alleges that she knew, or ought to have known, that the items and cash were stolen.
“In the alternative, Ashley Phoenix was willfully blind to the source and use of the money, jewelry, watches and miscellaneous items,” the filing reads.
Richmond RCMP executed a search warrant at Takakenew’s apartment on Anderson Road in March 2019. Takakenew was arrested at the time for break and enter and breach of recognizance, according to the court filing.
As they were announcing their presence at the door, officers saw Phoenix go onto the apartment’s patio and place a red bag “on the adjacent patio of another residence.” That bag, seized by RCMP during the raid, contained $50,000 in Canadian currency and $14,521 in U.S. money.
Another $1,000 in Canadian cash was found in the master bedroom, $970 in a wallet in the kitchen and $3.85 in a pocket of a coat, which was also seized.
The money, according to the court document, was “bundled or packaged in a manner not consistent with standard banking practices.”
Mounties also found a crowbar, 16 pairs of black gloves and a “break and enter kit,” containing a sweater and pants – both worn during some of the alleged crimes – plus a mask and a flashlight, according to the court document. Another sweater also worn by Takakenew during some of the alleged crimes was found in a bedroom dresser.
Nearly 100 other items were also seized, including Gucci and Loubouton shoes, a Canada Goose coat, three Samsung cellphones, Hermes and Chanel purses, a Hublot watch and Tiffany rings, among other high-end designer goods.
RCMP also seized clothing and a ping pong set.
The defendants “did not have sufficient legitimate income to have acquired the money, jewelry, watches and miscellaneous items,” the court documents reads.
