Barrie residents among dozens charged in cross-border gun probe

Four Barrie residents are among the 42 people arrested and 422 criminal charges laid following a year-long, cross-border investigation known as Project Moneypenny, which also saw illegal narcotics, cash and 173 firearms seized in Canada and the United States.

Toronto Police Service, York Regional Police, Durham Regional Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Canada Border Services Agency, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives took part in the investigation, which was launched in March 2022, according to a Toronto Police Service news release.

In July 2022, York Regional Police launched a similar investigation called Project Zorro.

Police said during the initial phases of both projects, undercover officers purchased fentanyl and cocaine, as well as 25 illegal guns, from “identified persons.”

Investigators said most of the illicit firearms seized from both investigations came from the U.S. However, several were also domestically sourced.

Last September, with the help of Criminal Intelligence Services Ontario and Firearms Analysis and Training Enforcement, police merged the two cases to “maximize the potential for a positive investigative outcome.”

The joint investigation, which expanded to include Durham Regional Police Service, the OPP, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Canada Border Services Agency, focused on dismantling the gun-smuggling network and identifying and prosecuting those responsible for running and enabling it, according to police.

"The goal for every agency here is to keep our citizens safe," said York Regional Police Deputy Chief Alvaro Almeida. "Rest assured, we will not be deterred from this goal. My sincere thanks to each and every officer, from all participating services, who worked diligently during this investigation to bring it to this successful conclusion."

In total, investigators seized 86 firearms (75 handguns and 11 long guns) in the GTA, 87 firearms in Illinois, 45 over-capacity magazines, 1,454 rounds of ammunition, three auto switches, three sets of body armour and approximately 1.5 kilos of fentanyl/carfentanil with an estimated street value of $300,000, as well as 1.8 kilos of cocaine with a street value of approximately $190,000, and $184,000 in cash.

Police also arrested 42 people between November 2022 and March 2023 following the execution of 49 search warrants in Toronto, Peel Region and Durham Region.

Police allege the accused were also selling narcotics, including fentanyl, carfentanil and cocaine.

“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of law enforcement agencies in Canada and the United States, we have effectively disrupted criminal organizations and their illicit activities," said Toronto Police Service Deputy Chief Rob Johnson. "I want to thank our law enforcement partners, and members of the Toronto Police Service, in particular the service's Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force, the Toronto Drug Squad, and Intelligence Services, for their ongoing commitment to keeping our communities safe."

Arrests and charges

Aly Youssef, 22, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distributing
2. Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
3. Offer to Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
4. two counts of Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
5. Possession of Firearm Knowing Serial Number has been Altered, Defaced or Removed
6. four counts of Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
7. two counts of Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
8. two counts of Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
9. Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
10. Transfer Restricted Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
11. Three counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
12.  four counts of Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Kayla Armstrong, 34, of Barrie, was charged with:

1. two counts of Possession of a Substance included in Schedule I

*Young Person #1, 17, of Barrie, was charged with:

1. Failure to Comply with Order
2. Possession of a Weapon
3. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
4. Possession of Firearm while Prohibited
5. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
6. Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

Karson Benjamin, 18, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Assault
2. two counts of Deface Serial Number on a Firearm
3. nine counts of Offer to Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
4. 23 counts of Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
5. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
6. two counts of Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
7. two counts of Transfer Non‐Restricted Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
8. 24 counts of Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
9. two counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
10. five counts of Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Joseph Blasko, 43, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. three counts of Careless Use of Firearm
2. three counts of Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
3. five counts of Transfer Non‐Restricted Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
4. four counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

Jeffrey Tai-Long Chen, 22, of Markham, was charged with:

1. Fail to Comply with Probation Order
2. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
3. Possession of Firearm Knowing Serial Number has been Altered, Defaced or Removed
4. two counts of Possession of Firearm while Prohibited
5. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
6. Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
7. two counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

Anthony Colley, 19, of Whitby, was charged with:

1. Offer to Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
2. Offer to Transfer Restricted Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
3. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
4. 11 counts of Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
5. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
6. Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
7. two counts of Transfer Non‐Restricted Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
8. 10 counts of Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
9. nine counts Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Raevon Conger, 21, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. two counts Failure to Comply with Order
2. Possession of Prohibited Weapon Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
3. Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
4. Robbery
5. two counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
6. Possession of a Schedule IV Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
7. Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Dequan Demos, 20, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
2. Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
3. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
4. Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Firearm
5. Unauthorized Possession of Firearm in Motor Vehicle

Keanu Ebanks, 22, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Careless Storage Ammunition
2. Carry Concealed Weapon
3. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
4. Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
5. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
6. Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Firearm

Urijah Frater, 25, of no fixed address, was charged with:

1. Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distributing
2. Assault Peace Officer
3. Escape Lawful Custody
4. five counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
5. two counts of Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Andrew Gayler, 18, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. two counts of Deface Serial Number on a Firearm

George Shania, 20, of no fixed address, was charged with:

1. three counts of Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized

Haseeb Hamidi, 23, of Pickering, was charged with:

1. Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
2. Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized

*Young Person #2, 17, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
2. Possession of Firearm while Prohibited
3. Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
4. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition

Yusuf Heruy, 21, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distributing
2. two counts of Weapons Trafficking
3. three counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

Qais Homayonoor, 28, of Whitby, was charged with:

1. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
2. Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
3. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
4. Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
5. Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Firearm
6. Unauthorized Possession of Firearm in Motor Vehicle

Qasim Homayonoor, 27, of Whitby was charged with:

1. Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence
2. Fraud Over $5000
3. Offer to Transfer Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
4. three counts of Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
5. eight counts of Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
6. three counts of Transfer Restricted Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
7. Offer to Traffic in a Schedule I Substance
8. four counts of Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Deandre Joseph, 20, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. three counts of Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
2. 12 counts of Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
3. Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

D’Andre Junior, 19, of Barrie, was charged with:

1. Failure to Comply with Order
2. two counts of Possession of Firearm while Prohibited
3. three counts of Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized

Maaz Kagzi, 23, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Possession of Cannabis for the Purpose of Distributing
2. Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
3. three counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

Samee Khan, 27, of Toronto, was charged with:

1.  two counts of Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
2.  five counts of Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized

Dion Langford, 26, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
2. Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
3. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
4. Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Firearm
5. Unauthorized Possession of Firearm in Motor Vehicle

Naveen Lotfi, 22, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. two counts of Offer to Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
2. 14 counts of Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
3. two counts of Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
4. Transfer Non‐Restricted Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
5. 23 counts of Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
6. Unauthorized Possession of Firearm in Motor Vehicle
7. Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
8. five counts of Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Tyrone Lothian, 23, of no fixed address, was charged with:

1. three counts of Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized

Malcolm Mahamoud, 22, of York, was charged with:

1. two counts of Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
2. two counts of Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
3. two counts of Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
4. Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
5. Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
6. two counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

Michael Maharaj, 22, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. two counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
2. two counts of Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Shaquille Mitchell, 27, of Ajax, was charged with:

1. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
2. Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
3. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
4. Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
5. Unauthorized Possession of a Prohibited Firearm
6. Unauthorized Possession of Firearm in Motor Vehicle
7. Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
8. Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Jamar Morin, 23, of Pickering, was charged with:

1. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
2. two counts of Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
3. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
4. Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
5. Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

Javon Morin, 21, of Pickering, was charged with:

1. Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
2. Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Jerell Morin, 18, of Pickering, was charged with:

1. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
2. Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
3. Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

Devaine Nelson, 30, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. two counts of Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
2. two counts of Possession of Firearm while Prohibited
3. Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
4. two counts of  Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
5. Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
6. Unauthorized Possession of Firearm in Motor Vehicle

Nilu Patel, 22, of East Gwillimbury, was charged with:

1. two counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
2. two counts of Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Breanne Pitchenese, 28, of Winnipeg, was charged with:

1.  four counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

Crystal Reppard, 40, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Damon Rolph, 28, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
2. three counts of Transfer Prohibited Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized
3. Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
4. two counts of Traffic in a Schedule I Substance

Mohammad Salehzada, 18, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Disobey Court Order
2. two counts of Failure to Comply with Order
3. Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
4. three counts of Possession of Firearm while Prohibited
5. Unauthorized Possession of Firearm in Motor Vehicle

Elijah Sargeant, 24, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Possession of Firearm while Prohibited
2. Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
3. Transfer Restricted Firearm while Knowingly Not Being Authorized

Scott Syril, 36, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. two counts of  Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
2. Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
3. two counts of Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
4. Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
5. Unauthorized Possession of Firearm in Motor Vehicle

Hamza Tariq, 27, of Ajax, was charged with:

1. two counts of Possession of Firearm Knowing Its Possession is Unauthorized
2. two counts of  Possession of Firearm while Prohibited
3. Possession of Prohibited Device Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized
4. two counts of Possession of Prohibited or Restricted Firearm with Ammunition
5. Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
6. Unauthorized Possession of Firearm in Motor Vehicle
7. two counts of Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking

*Young Person #3, of Toronto, was charged with:

1. Careless Use of Firearm
2. Possession of a Weapon
3. Unauthorized Possession of a Non‐Restricted Firearm

Andrew Trottier, 27, of Barrie, was charged with:

1. Possession of Property or Proceeds Obtained by Crime
2. Possession of a Schedule I Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking
3. Possession of a Substance included in Schedule I