Police Investigate Alleged Marriage Fraud Scheme Involving Tim Hortons Manager and Teenage Employee
/A disturbing and unusual case is unfolding in Prince Edward County, Ontario, where the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating allegations that a Tim Hortons manager attempted to bribe a teenage employee into a fake relationship — all to help a 25-year-old man gain permanent residency in Canada.
The Allegations
On September 9, 2025, the OPP officially launched a marriage fraud investigation, confirmed Sgt. Joe Brisebois of the Prince Edward OPP Detachment. While he declined to provide specific details, he stated that the investigation is ongoing and no charges have been laid at this time.
The case came to light when Matt Monroe, the uncle of a 17-year-old employee at a Tim Hortons franchise in Wellington, contacted police after his niece shared a series of troubling text messages.
According to Monroe, the texts allegedly show her manager asking if she would be willing to enter into a relationship — possibly even a sham marriage — with the manager’s adult “brother.” In exchange, the teen was reportedly offered a payment of $15,000 to $20,000.
Monroe shared his outrage in a now widely-circulated Facebook post:
“The manager was harassing my niece to marry her brother who is 25 and she is underage, and offered her $20,000 to marry him.”
He added in an interview with the Toronto Sun that his niece has since quit her job at both the Wellington and Picton Tim Hortons locations, saying she “no longer feels comfortable” working there.
Mariah Monroe, the teen’s aunt, said the girl was further traumatized by ridicule from coworkers and even customers, despite being the alleged victim in the situation.
The Text Messages
Screenshots of the alleged conversation, which have been shared online and are now in police hands, outline the disturbing exchange.
It begins with a simple question from the manager:
“Do you have a BF?”
The teen replies, “No, why?”
The manager responds, “Just wanted to know sry if you mind. I wanna ask you something if you don’t mind.”
When the girl says “yeah,” the manager allegedly continues:
“You want Indian bf?”
The teen asks, “How old?”
The manager responds, “25.”
When the teen clarifies she’s only 17, she also asks if it’s someone she works with.
The manager allegedly replies:
“My brother. He is looking for GF. He need someone to get permanent residency in Canada. And if you can help him with that, he can pay you 15k to 20k too.”
These messages were described as “creepy and inappropriate” by Monroe and are now a central piece of evidence in the OPP investigation.
The Legal Context
Under Section 292 of the Canadian Criminal Code, arranging a sham marriage or knowingly assisting in one is a serious offense.
The law states that anyone who procures or aids in procuring a feigned marriage can face:
Up to five years in prison for an indictable offense, or
Summary conviction penalties for lesser offenses.
Police are currently working to identify and speak with both the former manager and the man she referred to as her “brother.” At this point, there is no confirmation of his identity, and investigators have not verified whether he is truly her sibling or simply someone she knows.
Tim Hortons’ Response
Tim Hortons’ corporate team confirmed that the manager involved has been terminated, emphasizing that individual franchise owners are responsible for managing their staff.
A spokesperson said:
“The restaurant owner terminated the manager involved soon after he became aware of the completely unacceptable situation on his team.”
The owner of the two affected Prince Edward County franchises has declined to comment publicly.
The Former Manager Speaks Out
While she has not spoken directly to media outlets, the fired manager posted online, claiming the screenshots being circulated don’t tell the full story.
She alleged that:
The messages were taken out of context and represented only a “one-sided portion of a longer conversation.”
The teen employee had been discussing financial struggles, and the mention of money was related to that, not a marriage arrangement.
The word “marriage” was never explicitly used in their exchange.
“No further actions were taken beyond that conversation. Yet now, people are losing their jobs and reputations are being damaged, even though nothing happened,” she wrote.
Community Response and Next Steps
The case has stirred significant emotion in the local community.
Another parent of a Tim Hortons employee even protested outside the Picton location on Saturday, demanding accountability and support for the teen involved.
Matt Monroe has called for a full human trafficking investigation, saying that given the lack of information about the alleged “brother,” police need to rule out broader exploitation concerns.
The teen victim, who had just turned 17, remains deeply shaken. Her aunt says she has experienced trauma, humiliation, and ridicule throughout the ordeal.
Monroe summed up the family’s frustration:
“She shouldn’t have had to quit her job. Hopefully, professionalism kicks in and the young employee is reinstated and cared for.”
Where Things Stand
At this point:
No charges have been laid.
The OPP are actively investigating and are seeking to speak with the former manager and the man described as her brother.
The case is being treated as a marriage fraud investigation, but the possibility of other offenses, including human trafficking, has not been ruled out.
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward while emphasizing that all parties are considered innocent until proven guilty.
This story serves as a disturbing reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by young workers, especially those in positions of lower power and authority. No matter the outcome of the investigation, there’s a clear need for compassionate outreach to the teenage employee at the heart of this case.