Two Albertans charged in $2M campsite frauds at Lake Koocanusa

Sep 22, 2021 | 2:20 PM

CALGARY, AB – Many who thought they would be going for a nice getaway to a popular Southeastern B.C. lake were instead getting scammed.

Calgary Police Service (CPS) has charged two people in relation to facilitating fraudulent sales of RV camping lots, cabin lots, and dock spaces.

Craig Douglas McMorran, 61, of Calgary, is the owner of Sweetwater Resort, a land development project at Lake Koocanusa. The resort also went by the names Sweetwater RV Park and Sweetwater at Lake Koocanusa.

It is alleged that, between 2014 and 2017, McMorran sold docking spaces for boats in the marina. However, because the “boat slips” were submerged Crown Land, they cannot be sold. In B.C., marina spaces can only be leased or rented.

It was also determined that the sales contracts from the R.V. park site were invalid.

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CPS estimates that McMorran fraudulently obtained more than $2-million from multiple victims who believed they were purchasing legitimate lot and dock spaces.

As well, Gus Kalabalikis, 53, of Calgary, acted as the sales manager for the resort between 2013 and 2016 and facilitated fraudulent sales of cabin lots.

McMorran is charged with two counts of fraud over $5,000, one count of money laundering, and one count of theft over $5,000.

Kalabalikis is charged with one count of theft over $5,000 and three counts of fraud over $5,000.

The resort has been ordered to close by the Regional District of East Kootenay.

by David Opinko