PROJECT SOUTH: Will young cop's guilty plea set the stage for others?
· Toronto Sun
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In a stuffy courtroom on University Ave. in Toronto on an autumn Monday morning, a young cop will face the consequences of his alleged stupidity.
Const. Elias Mouawad is expected to plead guilty to unlawfully using a police computer system and breach of trust.
Mouawad was one of the little fish ensnared in the sprawling net of Project South, the massive corruption probe involving eight current and former Toronto cops.
Young cop’s punishment may set tone
A source familiar with the Project South investigation told the Toronto Sun that the other cops allegedly involved will be watching Monday’s proceedings. Very closely.
“They will all be watching Mouawad’s proceedings with a great deal of interest,” the source told the Sun on condition of anonymity. “It’s expected he’ll get a suspended or conditional sentence and is the one most likely to keep his job.”
The source added: “When Elias’ matters are wrapped, then you’ll likely see other guys scrambling for the best deal. But some of them, they’re just f—ed.”
Mouawad allegedly unlawfully accessed a police database, then flipped the information to a friend. A buddy who is also entwined in the Project South probe.
HERE’S YOUR PROJECT SOUTH CHEAT SHEET
WHAT IS IT?
A major, multi-jurisdictional investigation into corruption in the Toronto Police Service and some cops’ alleged ties to organized crime. It was launched by York Regional Police in 2025 and the chilling results were released last February.
Triggering the probe was an attempted hit on a Toronto South Detention Centre manager who had allegedly run afoul of a gangbanger. Information was leaked from the TPS leading hitmen to his home. From there, the probe zeroed in on rogue cops from 12 Division.
In addition to the seven current cops and one retiree, 19 others were arrested with more than 170 charges laid. They ranged from conspiracy to commit murder to drug trafficking. Bribery, extortion and obstruction of justice are also in the mix.
ALLEGATIONS
Unsealed information-to-obtain (ITO) court documents allege that the cops were running unauthorized database queries, protecting illicit operations, and trafficking drugs.
CAST OF COP CHARACTERS
CONST. TIMOTHY BARNHARDT — Alleged ringleader of the Project South cops who appeared to have dreams of being a crime lord in blue. He faces 17 charges, the most of any of the officers accused in the investigation. They include: cocaine trafficking, bribery and weapons.
SGT. ROBERT BLACK — Black faces four charges. They include conspiring to obstruct justice, two drug trafficking charges and counselling an uncommitted fraud.
JOHN MADELEY SR. — Retired copper was former partners with Barnhardt. Charged with breach of trust, four counts of unauthorized use of a computer, possession of a prohibited firearm and device, and possession of more than $5,000 worth of property obtained by crime.
CONST. JOHN MADELEY JR. — Son of John Madeley Sr., faces two charges: breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer.
SGT. CARL GRELLETTE — Faces four charges, including breach of trust and harassment by repeatedly following another person.
CONST. SAURABJIT BEDI — Facing several conspiracy charges and one substance trafficking charge. He is accused of conspiring to obstruct justice, falsely accuse a person, accept a bribe and traffic a substance.
CONST. DEREK McCORMICK — Pleaded guilty in July. Now retired.
CONST. ELIAS MOUAWAD — In court Monday where is expected to plead guilty to breach of trust and unauthorized use of a computer.
SO FAR
In July, one of the Project South cops, the now-retired Derek McCormick, pleaded guilty to breach of trust and one count of theft under $5,000. He was handed a 10-month conditional sentence — including five months of house arrest. Justice Jonathan Bliss lambasted McCormick, using words like “disgrace and dishonour.” Four other charges were kicked to the curb.
His lawyer described him as a “non-player” in Project South. He was with TPS 28 years.
MORE LIGHT ON THE SORDID
Newly reportable details from an Information to Obtain (ITO) application in the case unleashed more shocking bombshells. A publication ban was lifted on the latest shocking allegations from the Project South ITO.
HERE ARE SOME OF THE LATEST NUGGETS
‘COCAINE EYES’
According to a sworn statement by YRP detectives, audio and video devices were installed in Barnhardt’s vehicle. They captured the officer buying cocaine from Const. Saurabjit Bedi, in a Brampton plaza in October 2025. After the purchase, Bedi called Barnhardt and asked him if he “looked f—ed up when you saw me? … cuz I’m going to daycare now.” According to the transcript, Barnhardt replied, “Just put your sunglasses on that’s all, you got … what do they call them … cocaine eyes.”
REEFER AND RUBS
In late November 2025, detectives collected further evidence of machinations between Barnhardt and Bedi. According to sworn statements by investigators, the pair were drinking and doing drugs when they discussed their grandiose plans to open a marijuana dispensary and a massage parlour. Bedi allegedly told Barnhardt he had “girls” who wanted “protection and safety” while the pair took a cut of the profits. Bedi allegedly said that using hotels would be a better idea. Barnhardt told his brother officer he was talking about massage parlours, not escorts.
RUB N TUG 2.0
As per Project South transcripts, Barnhardt was captured talking to alleged drug trafficker, Brian Da Costa, who allegedly greased the cop’s palm for database searches. Da Costa is heard asking Barnhardt about teaming up to open a massage parlour. “Oh f— bro I’ve been trying to do that myself … I just didn’t have the link for the women ….” Barnhardt said he’d double down on the idea , adding he was “excited.” Da Costa jokingly said he wouldn’t have to pay for the massages. Barnhardt quipped he would be a daily customer.
COP UNIFORM BUYS
Investigators say another meeting between Barnhardt and Da Costa occurred in late October 2025. According to police documents, Da Costa wanted to purchase police gear including pants, jackets, hats and toques that were stored in the trunk of the cop’s vehicle. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10,” Da Costa, said while counting the bills and handing over the cash to Barnhardt. “You are the f—– best, man,” Barnhardt replied.
JAILHOUSE DRAMA
Investigators allege Barnhardt was paid by Da Costa to search a Ministry of Transportation database, without authorization and while off-duty, for the licence plate information of the Toronto South Detention Centre manager. That confidential info was used in an alleged plot to kill the corrections official in June 2025. YRP detectives derailed the rubout.
MORE?
Detectives allege the search was one of 17 performed by Barnhardt that were unauthorized and outside his work hours. Investigators also believe that the high-level jail official was targeted by an inmate, Gurpreet Singh, through his connections and romance with corrections officer Nishwant Dosanjh and four others charged in Project South. According to police documents, the official told detectives that cellphones and steroids were seized from Singh and his cellmate and they were subsequently separated, which made the pair angry.
INMATE AND GUARD?
Project South docs are also shedding light on the Singh-Dosanjh connection. According to investigators, they were former lovers. Cops allege that Dosanjh took a photo of the licence plate of the targeted corrections official’s vehicle parked in the jail’s employee parking lot and shared it with Da Costa. Da Costa allegedly gave that info to Barnhardt in May 2025 to search for the man’s home address. A guns-for-hire crew was recruited for the alleged death plot the next month.
WEDDING BELL BLUES
Him again? Gurpreet Singh, is fighting extradition after U.S. officials alleged he has links to accused drug kingpin and former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding. He has not been charged. Former Olympian Wedding is on ice in California.
A SPRAWLING WEB
Singh appears to have links to four others charged in the sprawling corruption investigation, documents filed in court allege. In addition to Da Costa, they include Elwyn Satanowsky, who is facing firearm charges, and Dequon Lemonious, accused of weapons trafficking. It’s alleged that Satanowsky orchestrated several shootings. Investigators also say he deposited money into Singh’s inmate trust account and spoke with the inmate on the phone more than 300 times in 2025.
Court documents stated that Lemonious was blamed by Kaejean Doman, a leader in the guns-for-hire group, for his incarceration, according to an intercepted jailhouse phone call. Doman was arrested in September 2025 following a shooting in Vaughan tied to the Project South probe.
@HunterTOSun