How a disbarred Brampton lawyer allegedly turned client trust into a $4.3 million fraud
Peel Regional Police have arrested a disbarred Brampton lawyer on 13 criminal charges, alleging he orchestrated four separate mortgage and cheque fraud schemes across the Region of Peel, Ontario, causing approximately $4.3 million in losses to victims.
Pawanjeet Singh Mann, 52, of Brampton — formerly the principal of PJ Mann Law Professional Corporation — was taken into custody on August 21, following an investigation by the Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau.
The charges include four counts each of fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime, three counts of criminal breach of trust, and two counts of uttering forged documents.
The arrest follows a regulatory action completed the prior year. In July 2025, the Law Society Tribunal of Ontario revoked Mann's licence after finding he had knowingly participated in a mortgage fraud scheme in late 2019.
The Fraud Bureau opened its investigation in August 2025, following multiple complaints received between June and July of that year.
Trust accounts at the centre of the alleged scheme
According to Peel Regional Police, the alleged fraud involved the misuse of legal trust accounts — mechanisms through which funds are held securely during property and mortgage transactions.
Brokers and their clients rely on lawyer-held trust accounts as a fundamental safeguard in residential closings, making the alleged abuse of that function a direct threat to the integrity of mortgage transactions.
The investigation uncovered four separate incidents resulting in approximately $4.3 million in losses.
Investigators believe additional victims may not yet have come forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fraud Bureau at 905-453-2121, ext. 3335.
The case adds to a growing body of mortgage fraud and enforcement actions in Ontario, underscoring mounting pressure on both regulatory and law enforcement bodies to hold financial professionals accountable.
Deputy Chief Nick Milinovich of Peel Regional Police described the alleged conduct as a fundamental betrayal of professional responsibility.
"These allegations represent a profound breach of trust by an individual entrusted with significant financial responsibility," Milinovich said.
"When that trust is exploited for personal gain, the impact on victims extends far beyond financial loss — it affects their daily lives, their sense of security, and their confidence in the systems meant to protect them. Peel Regional Police will relentlessly pursue those who prey on members of our community. No profession, title, or status places anyone above the law."
Enforcement pressure building across Ontario
The Mann arrest lands as Ontario's regulatory and law enforcement agencies intensify scrutiny of misconduct across the mortgage and legal sectors.
Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) initiated 100 enforcement actions in the 2024–25 fiscal year, up from 65 the prior year, imposing approximately $1.2 million in administrative monetary penalties across all regulated sectors, according to FSRA's enforcement annual report. The mortgage sector accounted for the largest share.
Peel Regional Police are reminding Canadians to verify the credentials and standing of any legal professional through the Law Society of Ontario before transferring funds or entering into legal agreements.
Fraud prevention resources are available through the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
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