Calgary police file charges in fake RV park construction northwest of Sundre.

Calgary police file charges in fake RV park construction northwest of Sundre.

A 64-year-old Chestermere man allegedly sold unsuspecting victims pieces of property.


A 64-year-old man from Chestermere has been charged with fraud by Calgary police after allegedly selling undeveloped lots in Clearwater County that were not approved for development or designated for recreational use.

In a press release issued on Thursday, April 3, the Calgary Police Service stated that the man is suspected of defrauding numerous individuals through the sale of lots at an undeveloped RV park in the county. The accused reportedly acquired around 94.22 acres of land northwest of Sundre, near Caroline, in August 2017 under the name Clearwater Cottages Ltd. with plans to develop an RV campground, according to police.

He allegedly began advertising and selling lots with 99-year lease terms, priced between $39,900 and $69,900, while a combo lot and cottage package was sold for $169,000. Between August 2017 and September 2020, he sold a total of 26 lots to unwitting buyers, police stated. In the fall of 2017, the suspect supposedly started developing a portion of the land into a campground even though he did not possess an approved development permit. Even after Clearwater County issued a cease-and-desist order regarding the development, he reportedly continued construction. A court order in January 2022 ultimately resulted in a permanent injunction against the RV park's development, requiring all leaseholders to vacate their properties by June 30, 2022. At that time, law enforcement informed several victims, who live in Calgary, that their lots had been fraudulently sold, as the land was not approved for development nor zoned for recreational use. Following multiple complaints, the Economic Crimes Unit of the Calgary Police Service initiated an investigation.

During this investigation, it was determined that the 26 lot owners collectively lost approximately $1.5 million, believing they were purchasing legitimate RV lots.

As a result, Craig Douglas McMorran, 64, of Chestermere, has been charged with fraud over $5,000. Police noted that McMorran is currently remanded for an unrelated issue and is scheduled to appear in court again on Tuesday, May 6. Authorities have urged individuals looking to buy real estate or vacation lots to conduct thorough research on the seller and have a lawyer review any pertinent documentation before proceeding with a transaction. "We also encourage anyone who suspects they have been a victim of fraud to come forward so we can investigate properly," police advised.
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