Man sentenced to 7.5 years in Edmonton extortion scheme

A high-ranking member of an organized crime group accused of violent extortions against Edmonton South Asian home builders is going to prison.

A man has pleaded guilty to four charges for his role in an extortion scheme targeting South Asian business owners in the Edmonton area.

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Parminder Singh, 22, was initially charged with 12 firearm related offences.

On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to extortion, working with a criminal organization, firing a gun at a home, and pointing a gun at a police officer.

Singh admitted to pulling the trigger nine times in a drive-by shooting on Oct. 11, 2023.

He was arrested shortly after.

The shooting was an attempt to extort money from the home builder who lived in the target home.

While reading the agreed statement of facts, the Crown said Singh was aware of the extortion and acted at the direction of a crime syndicate.

The agreed statement of facts also said Singh admitted to being a high-ranking member of the syndicate, and while awaiting trial in the Remand Centre, directed lower-ranking members of the gang to continue with the extortions and carry out arsons.

The extortion scheme, which the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) ultimately dubbed Project Gaslight, involved the burning of 12 properties under construction owned by South Asian home builders.

The Crown said the extortion scheme was motivated by greed, adding:

“The group terrorized the city and specifically the South Asian community of which Mr. Singh is a member.”

The suspected head of the syndicate, Maninder Dhaliwal, was arrested on unrelated charges in the United Arab Emirates in 2024.

EPS has applied for an extradition warrant for him to be brought back to Canada.

Another high-ranking member of the syndicate, Harpreet Uppal, was fatally shot alongside his 11-year-old son a month after the shooting involving Singh.

Singh appeared in court on Tuesday via CCTV wearing an orange jumpsuit with a black collar.

The Crown and defence asked for him to serve 7.5 years as part of a joint submission.

The judge agreed to the submission, saying in part:

“These offences have had a very significant impact on these home builders, their families, and their employees. This type of behaviour rocks an entire community.”

“This requires a harsh sentence.”

With time served, Singh will serve another four years behind bars.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Nicole Lampa