Convicted sex trafficker pleads guilty to having three shank knives on him in jail

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A convicted sex trafficker has pleaded guilty to being found with shank knives hidden in a sock in his waistband while in jail last summer awaiting trial.

Tyrone Dias, 40, admitted to having three ‘shanks’ on him during an inspection by guards at Central North Correctional Centre (CNCC) in Penetanguishene.

Dias, the court heard, reluctantly handed over the weapons to guards who were about to search his cell with canines. Dias had been in custody, since Nov. 2023, accused of human trafficking following a months-long investigation led by South Simcoe police into the exploitation of women at homes in Innisfil.

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Defence lawyer Marvin Shifman told the court Dias was the target of violence in jail and had been previously attacked and stabbed by other inmates. Shifman said Dias faced several threats of violence and feared for his safety in jail.

Dias, his co-accused Jashyna Singh, Oneil Hopkinson and Joseph Carvalho were convicted of all 16 human trafficking counts in June by a Barrie jury. They were accused of exploiting several vulnerable women in the sex trade, by advertising their services online. The women, the court heard, were supplied drugs and sold to men, at homes or taken to hotel rooms nearby to meet clients.

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Another co-accused, Edgar Martinez, identified Dias as the head of the operation with Singh serving as second in charge. Martinez admitted to providing security for the women while they were with clients. He was sentenced to five years behind bars, less time served in pre-sentence custody.

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The investigation, dubbed Project Chameleon, also led to drugs and weapons being seized from the homes, according to police. The convicted human traffickers await sentencing. Singh and Dias are also charged with drug trafficking and are scheduled to stand trial in the fall.

Justice Robert Gattrell accepted the joint proposal Thursday afternoon in a Midland courtroom and sentenced Dias to 30 days for having the knives on him. He remains in custody along with Singh, Hopkinson and Carvalho.

Dias and Singh return to court in two weeks to address their drug charges. The remaining allegations against them have not been tested in court.