Chelsea lawyer charged with fraud

by Trevor Greenway

A real estate lawyer in Chelsea has been charged with fraud, theft, false pretense and criminal breach of trust over real estate transactions completed between 2022 and 2024.

Chelsea resident Julian J. Hutchinson of Hutch Law was arrested and charged on Jan. 23 after Ottawa Police launched a fraud investigation in the fall of 2024. Police believe there are more victims who have yet to come forward and are urging those who have information to contact them immediately. 

According to court records, Hutchinson runs Hutch Law on Preston Street in Ottawa. He specializes in real estate, corporate, and environmental law and lives in Chelsea.  In a Dec. 30, 2024 tribunal decision, the Law Society of Ontario suspended Hutchinson’s licence and alleged that he “falsified documents in real estate transactions, provided false documents to parties as if they were authentic; made misleading statements in the course of real estate transactions; and  failed to co-operate with the Law Society’s investigation.”

The tribunal decision refers to 12 separate complaints in which Hutchinson’s clients allege that he tampered with documents, misled them, engaged in misconduct, and misappropriated trust funds. 

Ottawa police urge anyone with information to contact its Fraud Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 7300. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppers.ca. 

The Low Down reached out to Hutchinson; however, he said that, on the advice of his lawyer, he would not comment on the case. 

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