A Toronto man has been charged with trafficking a firearm in connection to the sprawling police corruption investigation dubbed Project South.

Court records obtained by Global News show Dequon Lemonious, 27, was arrested by York Regional Police on March 19 and charged with a single count of firearms trafficking.

According to the documents, Lemonious is accused of offering to transfer a prohibited firearm sometime between April 16 and June 2, 2025, in Toronto and the surrounding region.

York Regional Police confirmed that the charge against Lemonious stems from information obtained through Project South.

“We cannot provide additional information, as it is part of an active and ongoing investigation,” Const. James Dickson said.

The records do not specify who the firearm was allegedly offered to, or how the accused fits into the broader investigation.

Project South, a sweeping York police probe into organized crime, has already led to charges against seven active Toronto police officers, one retired constable, a correctional sergeant and 20 civilians.

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In total, more than 170 charges have been laid, none of which have been tested in court.

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Toronto police officers arrested in corruption probe

Police have alleged the investigation uncovered corruption, including leaking sensitive information to organized crime and bribery.

At the centre of the probe is an alleged plot to murder a correctional officer in Ontario.

Investigators said suspects made multiple attempts over a 36-hour period to locate and kill the man at his York Region home, including incidents where masked individuals attended the property and allegedly rammed a police cruiser parked in the driveway.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said police would need to “earn back” public trust.

At an unrelated news conference in March, Premier Doug Ford said he wanted to see those who target correctional officers harshly punished.

“If you want to attack one of our correctional services officers or police, you’re going to pay a real penalty — a real, real penalty,” he said.

– With files from Aaron D’Andrea, Isaac Callan and Colin D’Mello

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Ontario’s solicitor general has broken his silence on the arrest of seven serving Toronto police officers, weeks after the results of a massive anti-corruption probe were released.

Dubbed Project South, a York Regional Police investigation into organized crime led to the arrest of seven Toronto police officers, spreading to Peel Region, where three officers were suspended.

Claims against the Toronto cops related to alleged corruption, leaking information to an organized crime group and bribery. The charges have not been proven in court.

The bust was announced at a news conference on Feb. 5 and drew comments from both Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who said her police chief would have to “earn” trust back.

In the wake of the arrests, Global News requested an interview with Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. His office declined.

Now, more than a month later, Kerzner has addressed the arrests — suggesting he had been available to comment earlier.

“People have said that I haven’t been available to answer any questions. In fact, it is not so,” Kerzner told reporters.

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“I’ve been before the media (at) two news conferences after the synagogue shootings in the past two weeks. Nobody asked me a question about that.”

Global News asked Kerzner’s office to share the copies of the media advisories that had informed reporters the solicitor general would be available to comment. His staff did not respond ahead of publication.

On the charges against seven serving Toronto officers, Kerzner had little to say.

“This is being investigated by a number of police services,” he told reporters.

“And, also, the inspector general is doing his investigation. So this is going forward. We’re going to wait to see what comes out. We take this matter as a provincial government very seriously.”

At the centre of the Project South investigation was an alleged plot to murder a man working at an Ontario correctional institution.

Police said the investigation began in June 2025 when investigators alleged the conspiracy to murder the correctional officer unfolded.

Hogan said over a 36-hour period, several suspects went to the man’s home in York Region, at least three times, “we allege for the purpose of murdering him.” He said video surveillance shows masked and armed suspects went to the home, and at one point, rammed a police cruiser that was in the driveway.

He said the investigation uncovered serious allegations of criminal corruption among the charged Toronto police officers.

At an unrelated news conference on Monday, Ford said he wanted to see those who target correctional officers harshly punished.

“If you want to attack one of our correctional services officers or police, you’re going to pay a real penalty — a real, real penalty,” he said.

“These guys who go after our officers deserve to sit in a hole for, God knows, three years. Maybe the message will get out. How dare you try to go after one of our correctional service officers? I’ll have zero tolerance.”

Kerzner made similar comments.

“I want to echo the premier’s remarks on standing with our correctional officers,” he said. “These are people that work hard every single day, and as solicitor general, I’ve travelled the province extensively and I’ve visited our facilities.”

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

An Ontario agency responsible for probing police misconduct is investigating three suspended Peel Regional Police officers over alleged ties to an ongoing corruption probe.

The Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA), which investigates allegations related to the Community Safety and Policing Act, announced Thursday that it’s in the “public interest” for it to take control of the probe.

Earlier this month, Peel Regional Police administratively suspended three officers after York Regional Police unveiled accusations of corruption within Toronto police as part of its probe dubbed Project South.

The allegations against seven active Toronto police officers and one retired Toronto officer include bribery, obstruction of justice, drug trafficking, theft of personal property, breach of trust and the unauthorized access and distribution of confidential information.

No officers from Peel Regional Police have been charged in connection with Project South, a spokesperson for the force told Global News on Feb. 6.

LECA said Peel Regional Police informed them of the allegations against its officers on Monday.

“Based on all the information to date, Director [Stephen] Leach determined that it is in the public interest for LECA to assume control of the conduct investigation,” the agency said in a news release.

“LECA’s conduct investigation will not interfere with any ongoing criminal investigations or prosecutions, nor does the initiation of a conduct investigation displace the right of members of the public to submit a related complaint.”

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Chief Demkiw to seek suspension without pay for 6 officers amid Ontario-wide corruption probe

LECA added that it’s also investigating the misconduct allegations against the Toronto police officers.

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The unveiling of Project South sent shockwaves throughout the region and resulted in the announcement of a review into Ontario’s police services and boards.

Ryan Teschner, the province’s inspector general of policing, told reporters on Feb. 9 that the review will examine officer supervision and span of control, screening and vetting of officers, access to police databases and information systems, evidence and property management, and substance abuse and fitness for duty.

If the review finds any non-compliance with policing legislation, Teschner said he’ll determine whether to issue any legally binding directions.

His directions and the full review will be made public.

Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw has sought the reviews and is currently seeking suspension without pay for six of the seven officers who were charged.

The nuances of legislation don’t allow him to seek suspension without pay for the seventh officer, he has said.

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.