Ontario judge authorizes seizure of $272,000 found under bed

An Ontario judge has authorized the seizure of approximately $272,000 in cash found at the home of Kellesis, a retired construction worker in Mississauga. The funds, which included $250,000 hidden under a bed, were discovered during ‘Operation Hobart’, a large-scale investigation into an illegal gambling ring allegedly linked to the Hells Angels gang.

While the criminal case was stayed because prosecutors could not manage the massive volume of evidence within legal timeframes, the Ontario Attorney General utilized civil asset forfeiture laws to recover the money. Kellesis claimed the funds were legitimate and that his frequent visits to the suspected gambling location were merely to socialize and play mobile games, but the court rejected this explanation, citing evidence that the location was clearly used for illegal gambling activities.