Cornwall comedian Dave Regnier has been arrested and charged by Cornwall police following a lengthy fraud investigation into the financing of his documentary films.

Regnier, 34, who had been living in Toronto, turned himself in to Cornwall police and was charged Tuesday with 41 counts of fraud in connection with his films My Date With Hugh and Celebrity. Police allege the comedian/filmmaker had obtained about $170,000 from several people, including family members, by fraudulent means.

Regnier turned himself in around 6:15 a.m. Tuesday on an outstanding warrant that had been issued on Oct. 12, said Melanie Labelle, media spokeswoman for the Cornwall Police Department. She said Regnier was charged with 13 counts of fraud over $5,000, 13 counts of theft by conversion (accepting funds and placing them in a personal account), 13 counts of false pretence, and two counts of personation.

Regnier appeared in court Tuesday and was released on a $25,000 bond.

In May, The Citizen detailed Regnier’s efforts to raise money for his documentary following complaints by several people who had invested in the latest film he was working on. More than 15 people in the Cornwall-area had invested in Celebrity, ranging from $1,500 to $50,000, although the documentary was never completed. Cornwall police began their investigation of Regnier at the end of May.

One of the investors of the documentary was the comedian’s uncle. Robert Regnier gave his nephew more than $50,000. According to Robert Regnier, his brother Roger, Dave Regnier’s father, is owed more than $100,000 and had re-mortgaged his house to help fund his son’s documentary.

“This has created a lot of problems within the family,” said Robert Regnier in an earlier interview.

Cornwall Det. Const. Scott Virtue said investors were promised “a good return” on their money once the movie was made and sold to distributors., About 30 hours of footage was shot for Celebrity, but it remains unfinished.

Virtue said investors he spoke to said they were upset about what they believed was deception used in regard to promoting the documentaries.

It’s alleged that Regnier faked emails that purported to show his involvement with film industry professionals, told friends he had landed a job as a comedy writer on Saturday Night Live, and said he had won a comedy award from the Comedy Central TV Network. None of that was true.

None of the allegations has been proven in court.

Ottawa filmmaker Matt West gave Regnier $5,000 for his documentary in the belief that the comedian was going to be successful in the industry.

“I think it’s just what happened to him. I don’t think it’s right to take money from anybody, and the fact he took money from his own father is pretty disgusting,” said West, who was paid back his original investment.

Regnier’s next court appearance is Nov. 27 in Cornwall.