Mexican authorities have arrested Maxime Paquette, a Quebec fugitive wanted in connection with investigations into the Desjardins data breach that exposed the personal information of nearly 9.7 million Canadians.

Paquette, 40, was arrested in Cancún after remaining wanted since June 2024. He had been included on Quebec’s list of most wanted fugitives, according to the Sûreté du Québec.

Police allege that Paquette possessed identifying information linked to Desjardins customers and used data obtained from the 2019 breach to carry out fraud schemes. Authorities also allege that he sold identifying information from stolen customer lists to several individuals and through the dark web.

The leaked information included names, addresses, birth dates, social insurance numbers, email addresses and details about customers’ transaction habits.

Paquette is expected to remain in custody in Mexico while extradition proceedings are initiated. Once returned to Canada, he is expected to face charges including fraud over $5,000, identity theft and trafficking in identifying information.

The SQ said the arrest involved cooperation with Mexican authorities, Quebec prosecutors, Interpol and other national and international partners. The allegations have not been proven in court.

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Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.