Jocelyn Grégoire

Full Report

Key Points

• Identity and Influence: Jocelyn Grégoire is a prominent Quebec-based real estate influencer, investor, and entrepreneur known for founding the Facebook group Les Mordus d’immobilier with over 120,000 members.

• Legal Issues: Grégoire and his company, Cedma Finance, face significant legal scrutiny from the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) for illegal securities trading, mortgage brokering, and investment management activities, resulting in fines totaling CAD 260,000 and operational restrictions.

• Fraud Allegations: A 2021 lawsuit alleges Grégoire and associates engaged in fraudulent activities related to the sale of digital advertising franchises, leading to a Mareva injunction to freeze his assets.

• Reputation: While Grégoire has a strong online presence and some positive feedback for his motivational content, serious concerns about his business practices, including conflicts of interest and misleading investment promises, overshadow his public image.

• Risks: High financial, legal, and reputational risks are associated with engaging with Grégoire due to ongoing legal battles, regulatory sanctions, and allegations of fraud.

Overview

Jocelyn Grégoire is a self-described multi-entrepreneur, real estate investor, and formator based in Montreal, Quebec. He gained prominence through his social media presence, particularly as the founder of Les Mordus d’immobilier, a Facebook group with approximately 120,000 members focused on real estate investment. Grégoire markets himself as a mentor who helps individuals achieve financial freedom through real estate, offering training, networking events like “Immo, bière & pizza,” and investment opportunities through his company, Cedma Finance, and other ventures like Capital Immo Privé. He has authored a book, De bum à millionnaire, where he discusses his journey from humble beginnings, including past incarceration and alleged ties to organized crime, to becoming a successful real estate investor. Grégoire’s public persona emphasizes ambition and wealth-building, but his activities have drawn significant regulatory and legal scrutiny.

Allegations and Concerns

• Illegal Financial Activities: The AMF has accused Grégoire and Cedma Finance of engaging in illegal securities trading, mortgage brokering, and investment management without proper registration. In 2023, the AMF initiated legal proceedings, alleging violations of Quebec’s Securities Act and Act respecting the distribution of financial products and services. The Tribunal administratif des marchés financiers (TMF) imposed fines of CAD 260,000 in May 2025 and prohibited Grégoire from acting as a broker or investment manager for three years unless he complies with AMF regulations.

• Fraud Allegations: In 2021, a group of investors filed a CAD 8 million lawsuit against Grégoire, Daniel Jutras, and others, alleging they were misled into investing in a digital advertising franchise called Crackboom, described as a “scam.” A Superior Court judge issued a Mareva injunction to prevent Grégoire from liquidating assets, citing suspicions of fraudulent intent to evade justice.

• Conflicts of Interest: The AMF highlighted that Grégoire acted simultaneously for borrowers and lenders in mortgage transactions, creating conflicts of interest. He also held roles as a shareholder and administrator in Capital Immo Privé while managing loans, further complicating his fiduciary responsibilities.

• Misleading Investment Promises: Grégoire has been criticized for promoting “CELI immobilier” investments, promising high returns (e.g., CAD 870/month on a CAD 95,000 investment) secured by first- and second-rank mortgages, which some investors claim were deceptive.

Customer Feedback

• Positive Feedback: Some followers praise Grégoire’s motivational content and networking events. On his Facebook page, which has 9,465 likes, supporters commend his ability to inspire and educate on real estate investment. A YouTube video titled “Comment Jocelyn Gregoire a construit une fortune en investissant dans l’immobilier” describes him as an “example of a multi-entrepreneur” with a “sharp sense of business.”

• Negative Feedback: Negative feedback centers on allegations of deceit and financial loss. Investors on platforms like Reddit have expressed regret, with one user stating, “I was banned from his group after sharing an article about his fraud allegations. His pitch sounded too good to be true, and it was.” Others have called his investment schemes “shady” and warned against his high-return promises.

Risk Considerations

• Financial Risk: Investors face significant risk due to Grégoire’s history of alleged fraudulent schemes and illegal financial activities. The CAD 8 million lawsuit and AMF fines suggest potential for financial losses, especially in ventures like Crackboom or Cedma Finance.

• Reputational Risk: Associating with Grégoire could damage an individual or company’s reputation due to his publicized legal troubles and fraud allegations. His past admission of ties to organized crime in his book further amplifies this risk.

• Legal Risk: Engaging with Grégoire or his companies carries legal risks, as demonstrated by the AMF’s sanctions and the Mareva injunction. Investors or partners could be implicated in ongoing or future legal actions.

• Operational Risk: Grégoire’s businesses, including Cedma Finance, have been ordered to cease certain activities, limiting their operational capacity and reliability as investment vehicles.

Business Relations and Associations

• Cedma Finance: Grégoire’s primary company, involved in real estate investment and mortgage brokering, has been central to AMF allegations of illegal activities.

• Capital Immo Privé (CIP): Grégoire is a shareholder and administrator, implicated in conflicts of interest related to loan management.

• Daniel Jutras: A business associate named in the CAD 8 million lawsuit, accused alongside Grégoire of fraudulent practices in the Crackboom franchise scheme.

• Alexandra Philibert: Jutras’s partner, also named in the lawsuit, adding to the network of individuals tied to Grégoire’s ventures.

• François Bélanger: A former partner who managed Projet PL and is now president of Investissements Belabri. Bélanger was fined CAD 23,000 by the AMF for assisting Grégoire in illegal securities activities.

• Les Mordus d’immobilier: Grégoire’s Facebook group serves as a platform for promoting his ventures and attracting investors, though it has faced criticism for censoring negative feedback.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• AMF Lawsuit (2023–2025): The AMF accused Grégoire and Cedma Finance of illegal securities trading and mortgage brokering, resulting in CAD 260,000 in fines and a three-year ban from certain financial activities unless registered with the AMF.

• Mareva Injunction (2021): A Superior Court judge issued an injunction to freeze Grégoire’s assets, including nearly 30 properties and bank accounts, suspecting he was liquidating them to avoid legal accountability in the CAD 8 million Crackboom lawsuit.

• Investor Lawsuit (2020): A group of investors sued Grégoire, Jutras, and others for CAD 8 million, alleging fraud in the sale of Crackboom franchises, described as an “escroquerie” (scam).

• Past Incarceration: In his book De bum à millionnaire, Grégoire admitted to prior imprisonment and ties to organized crime, raising concerns about his credibility.

• No Bankruptcy Records: No public records indicate personal or corporate bankruptcy for Grégoire or Cedma Finance, but the asset freeze suggests financial instability.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

Jocelyn Grégoire presents a complex profile: a charismatic influencer with a large following, yet a figure mired in serious legal and ethical controversies. His strengths lie in his ability to build a community through Les Mordus d’immobilier and inspire aspiring investors, as evidenced by positive feedback on his networking events and motivational content. However, these are heavily outweighed by significant red flags. The AMF’s sanctions, the CAD 8 million fraud lawsuit, and the Mareva injunction suggest a pattern of deceptive practices and regulatory non-compliance. His admitted past ties to organized crime and conflicts of interest in financial dealings further erode trust.

Pros:

• Strong online presence and community engagement.

• Motivational content resonates with some aspiring investors.

• Offers networking opportunities through events.

Cons:

• Serious allegations of fraud and illegal financial activities.

• Regulatory sanctions and fines from the AMF.

• History of incarceration and ties to organized crime.

• Censorship of critical feedback in his online community.

Cautionary Advice: Potential investors or partners should exercise extreme caution. Verify all investment opportunities through independent financial advisors and regulatory bodies like the AMF. Avoid engaging with Grégoire’s ventures until legal proceedings are resolved and compliance is confirmed. Monitor updates from credible sources like the AMF or court records to assess ongoing risks.

Key Citations

• Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF): Reports on legal actions and fines against Grégoire and Cedma Finance.

• Journal de Montréal: Article on fraud allegations and Mareva injunction (2021).

• TVA Nouvelles: Coverage of AMF lawsuit against Grégoire (2023).

• Reddit (r/QuebecFinance): Investor warnings and feedback on Grégoire’s schemes.

• YouTube: Video on Grégoire’s real estate success story (2020).

• Facebook: Grégoire’s official page and Les Mordus d’immobilier group.