Onion Lake RCMP charge two men with fraud over $5,000

Two men from Onion Lake, Sask., face fraud charges after an RCMP investigation into payments collected from landholders on Onion Lake Cree Nation, the Saskatchewan RCMP said in a news release on Oct. 7.

Tommy Whitstone, 67, and Richard Stanley, 54, each face one count of fraud over $5,000 under section 380(1) of the Criminal Code. These are allegations only. Nothing has been proven in court.

The RCMP say they received a report on March 12, 2026, that money meant for Onion Lake Cree Nation had been misappropriated. The Saskatchewan RCMP Central District General Investigation Section and the Onion Lake RCMP detachment opened an investigation.

According to the release, investigators determined that over four years, the two men allegedly asked landholders on the Nation for payments and received them unlawfully. The release does not give a dollar total or describe how the payments were requested.

The two men are set to appear in court in Onion Lake on Nov. 25, 2026.

The RCMP do not usually release the names of victims. In this case, police say they are sharing the information to help prevent further victimization. Police ask anyone who had dealings with either man and suspects something was wrong to call 310-RCMP.

Tips can be left anonymously with Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-TIPS or saskcrimestoppers.com).