13 members of alleged criminal network arrested in series of violent crimes across Ontario

Police announced they've made more than a dozen arrests in connection to a string of violent crimes across Ontario. Beth Macdonell reports.

York Regional Police say 13 alleged members of an organized criminal network are facing more than 150 charges in connection with a host of violent crimes across Ontario, including shootings, carjackings, home invasion robberies, and murder.

The charges were the result of a nearly year-long multi-jurisdictional investigation dubbed Project Wrangler.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Supt. Simon James said the crimes were carried out by a “coalition of adult men from different groups and locations” who aligned themselves for “profit-motivated violence.”

“Project Wrangler was launched after police services across the province noted a series of violent incidents that at first appeared to be unrelated,” he said.

“Through careful analysis, information sharing, and the use of the province’s major case management system, investigators identified patterns and connections that ultimately linked these incidents together.”

He said a joint forces investigation was subsequently launched and involved representatives from a number of police services, including officers in London, Ont., Peel Region, Toronto, and Quebec, as well as Ontario Provincial Police.

“Over many months we allege that individuals within this network coordinated and carried out numerous organized offences, including homicide, attempt homicide, home invasions, armed robberies, firearms-related offences and a number of other series incidents across other jurisdictions outside of just the GTA,” James said.

Some of the incidents included a shooting inside a crowded hospital emergency room in London, and a home invasion robbery in Vaughan that resulted in the shooting of one of the occupants of the residence, he said.

“These incidents, along with others, demonstrate the coordinated nature of this network and the multi-jurisdictional scope of this investigation,” James added.

“This network also extended into Rimouski, Quebec, where we allege individuals associated with this group were involved in a homicide inside a private residence.”

Crimes were ‘brazen’ and ‘brutal’

James said police believe that the network recruited younger individuals to act as lookouts and drivers for the operation.

“What emerged was a view of an alleged criminal organization that had clear structure,” James said.

“A core group of older offenders who selected targets, coordinated transportation, facilitated access to weapons, managed proceeds and an outer younger layer of individuals who were there to carry out instructions and support operations.”

Police said Canada-wide warrants have been issued for two outstanding suspects.

According to investigators, 24-year-old Trestin Cassanova-Alman is wanted on a number of charges, including robbery with violence and instructing commission of offence for a criminal organization.

Ingram Mohamed, 20, of Hamilton, is wanted for first-degree murder, police said.

“These acts were brazen, they were brutal, and they are completely unacceptable... When it comes to committing violence, these suspects certainly did not discriminate,” York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween said of the alleged criminal network.

“They showed complete disregard for the value of human life and they left hundreds of victims in their wake.”