Taymour Aghtai

Key Points

• Taymour Aghtai, born in 1994, has a significant criminal history dating back to 2008, primarily involving hoax phone calls, fraud, and violent offenses.
• Convicted in 2023 for serious crimes in Richmond, BC, including sexual assault, extortion, and unlawful confinement, related to an incident in September 2020.
• Pleaded guilty in 2021 to making over 60 hoax calls to Lynn Valley Care Centre in March 2020, causing significant disruption during a COVID-19 outbreak.
• Sentenced to time served for multiple offenses, meaning no additional jail time due to pre-trial custody.
• A 2014 psychological report described Aghtai as a narcissistic, antisocial alcohol abuser with psychopathic tendencies.
• No current business affiliations or professional activities are documented; past activities include operating a small-scale buying and selling business from home.

Overview

Taymour Aghtai is a 31-year-old individual from Vancouver, British Columbia, with a criminal record spanning over a decade. He has no documented professional career or current business affiliations based on available information. In 2020, Aghtai was operating a small business buying and selling goods from his home, but this appears to have been a minor operation. His notoriety stems from a series of criminal activities, including hoax phone calls, fraud, and violent crimes. Aghtai gained significant attention for making over 60 malicious prank calls to the Lynn Valley Care Centre in North Vancouver during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, impersonating a health official and causing a staffing crisis. He has also been convicted of serious violent offenses, including sexual assault and extortion, related to an incident in Richmond, BC, in 2020. Aghtai comes from a reportedly wealthy family, with his father providing financial support, including paying for his housing.

Allegations and Concerns

• Hoax Phone Calls (Lynn Valley Care Centre, 2020): Aghtai pleaded guilty to one count of conveying a false message with intent to alarm and one count of public mischief. On March 7-8, 2020, he made 63 calls to staff at Lynn Valley Care Centre, posing as a BC Centre for Disease Control official. He falsely claimed the facility was locked down and told staff to stay home or quarantine, leading to over 80% staff absence in some sections, exacerbating a COVID-19 outbreak crisis.
• Violent Crimes (Richmond, 2020): Aghtai was convicted in January 2023 for sexual assault with a weapon, assault with a weapon, extortion, unlawful confinement, and use of an imitation firearm. These charges stem from an incident on September 5, 2020, where he trapped a man in a Richmond apartment, subjected him to physical and sexual assault, and extorted him. Specific acts included firing bear spray into the victim’s mouth, participating in pistol-whipping with an imitation firearm, and aiding in a sexual assault involving a broom handle, which he recorded while laughing.
• Other Criminal History: Aghtai’s criminal record dates back to 2008, starting at age 13, with offenses including hoax calls, fraud, assault, robbery, break and enter, confinement, weapons offenses, and violating court orders. In 2019, he made a hoax call to Oceanside RCMP, falsely reporting a shooting at a Fields department store, prompting an armed police response.
• Escape and Assault (2020): Aghtai was sentenced to nine months (time served) for assaulting two corrections officers with a syringe and escaping lawful custody at Richmond Hospital in September 2020.

Customer Feedback

There is no documented customer feedback related to Aghtai, as he is not associated with any public-facing business or service. His past activity of buying and selling goods from home did not generate publicly available reviews. The only relevant feedback comes from court-related statements:

• Negative Impact on Victims: Crown prosecutor Lara Sarbit noted that Aghtai’s hoax calls to Lynn Valley Care Centre left staff and families “traumatized, with lasting trust issues,” and caused a “devastating and heartbreaking” staffing shortage.
• Victim Testimony: In the Richmond case, the victim’s testimony was deemed more credible than Aghtai’s, who denied all allegations. The court described the victim’s experience as involving severe assault and humiliation.
  No positive feedback or endorsements were found in the available sources.

Risk Considerations

• Reputational Risk: Aghtai’s extensive criminal history, including violent and deceptive acts, makes him a high-risk individual for any personal or professional association. His actions have caused significant harm to victims and institutions, tarnishing his credibility.
• Legal Risk: Aghtai’s ongoing legal issues, including multiple convictions and a history of violating court orders, indicate a high likelihood of future legal entanglements. His refusal to attend a sentencing hearing in 2022 (due to not leaving his cell) suggests potential non-compliance with legal processes.
• Financial Risk: While Aghtai comes from a wealthy family, there is no evidence of personal financial stability. His limited employment history (briefly working as a computer technician and security guard) and reliance on family support suggest potential financial dependency. No bankruptcy records were found, but his criminal activities could lead to financial liabilities from legal penalties or restitution.
• Public Safety Risk: A 2014 psychological report described Aghtai as a narcissistic, antisocial alcohol abuser with psychopathic tendencies, raising concerns about potential recidivism and harm to others.

Business Relations and Associations

• No Current Business Affiliations: No current partnerships, businesses, or professional associations are documented. Aghtai’s 2020 activity involved a small-scale buying and selling operation from his home, but no specific partners or clients were named.
• Family Support: Aghtai’s father provided financial support, including paying for his housing and mobile phone, indicating a dependency on family resources.