Organized crime money launderer says he did not try to flee Canada, warrants vacated

Meghan Grant · CBC News

· Posted: May 05, 2025 3:39 PM EDT | Last Updated: 12 minutes ago

A Calgary antheral who was wanted connected warrants aft helium was suspected of attempting to fly the state up of his sentencing proceeding for organized transgression wealth laundering called the concern a "serious misunderstanding." 

After missing a tribunal quality Friday, Talal Fouani appeared earlier a justice connected Monday truthful that his warrants could be vacated.

Fouani called an allegation that helium tried to publication a charter formation to the Caribbean "inaccurate and damaging."  

"People thought I was fleeing the state and I was conscionable sitting astatine home," Fouani, 48, told the judge. 

'An honorable mistake'

He besides provided an emailed connection to CBC News.

"I privation to marque it unequivocally wide that I person not and bash not person immoderate volition of fleeing," said Fouani.

"I americium committed to resolving this substance and volition guarantee that I be each aboriginal tribunal dates arsenic required."

• Warrants issued for organized transgression wealth launderer who whitethorn person tried to fly Canada

Fouani said helium believed his adjacent tribunal day was respective months away and said missing Friday's quality "was an honorable mistake and not an effort to debar my obligations."

The parties appeared earlier Justice Greg Stirling connected Monday, and authoritative Shelley Tkatch told the justice that Fouani contacted her aboriginal Sunday greeting erstwhile helium realized he'd missed tribunal Friday and that warrants had been issued for his arrest. 

• Charges stayed for 5 accused successful organized transgression bust with links to Mexican cartel, murder

Fouani told her helium was nether the content his adjacent tribunal day was successful August, erstwhile a three-day sentencing proceeding is acceptable to instrumentality place.

"I judge his explanation," said Tkatch. 

Case delay 

Fouani pleaded blameworthy much than 2 years ago. 

Before a sentencing proceeding could instrumentality place, Fouani's archetypal lawyer, Yoav Niv, filed a twelve applications, astir of which went obscurity but had the effect of delaying the case. 

Fouani told the tribunal helium is moving to rehire his 2nd lawyer, Greg Dunn, to grip the lawsuit moving forward. 

The lawsuit dates backmost to 2022, erstwhile respective radical were charged successful an probe into a massive, cross-border cause trafficking cognition involving Mexican cartels.

Fouani's charges of wealth laundering were among the slightest superior and helium entered a blameworthy plea respective months later.

Others got distant 'with everything'

The others facing much superior charges, including Ricco King, the alleged person of the organization, saw their charges stayed by the Crown precocious past year. 

It's been a root of torment for Fouani.

"Everyone other has gotten distant with everything," Fouani said connected Monday, telling the tribunal helium intends to record a enactment exertion earlier the sentencing hearing. 

Justice Stirling declined to remark connected the imaginable exertion and told Fouani helium is committed to keeping the lawsuit "on track."

"As things stand, sentencing is proceeding successful August."