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- calendar_today October 19, 2026
Officer Sentenced for Role in Project South Investigation
A Toronto police officer has received a conditional discharge and a probation sentence after admitting to fraudulently obtaining a computer service, marking another development in the Project South police corruption and organized crime probe led by York Regional Police.
Background on the Illegal Computer Search
Constable Elias Mouawad, 25, pleaded guilty last month to a charge related to an illegal licence plate search. According to an agreed statement of facts, Mouawad conducted the search at the request of a former employer, who is also his co-accused in the ongoing Project South case. Court evidence showed that Mouawad, a former security guard, acted after communicating by FaceTime with his previous boss on January 19, an interaction intercepted by York Regional Police investigators.
Court Sentencing and Conditional Discharge
On Monday, Superior Court sentenced Mouawad to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service. The conditional discharge means that although Mouawad was found guilty, he will not have a criminal record if he fulfills the conditions of his probation. The Crown had sought a more severe sentence of four months, combining house arrest, curfew, and at least a year of probation. However, Mouawad’s lawyer, Peter Brauti, argued this would impact his employment and prospects for staying with Toronto police and advocated successfully for the conditional discharge.
Details of the Project South Case
Project South is a wide-ranging investigation into alleged police corruption and organized crime activity, initiated by York Regional Police after they thwarted an alleged murder plot targeting a senior corrections officer at Toronto South Detention Centre in June 2025. Subsequent investigations uncovered that a Toronto police officer had allegedly shared confidential information with Brian Da Costa, described by authorities as an alleged drug trafficker and a key figure in the probe, who remains in custody.
The evidence in Mouawad's case showed he ran a licence plate linked to a person with a history of substance trafficking investigations. While Mouawad did not know who would ultimately receive the results or how the information would be used, the details were passed to Da Costa. In total, Project South initially resulted in charges against seven Toronto police officers, one retired constable, and 19 civilians.
Mouawad's Apology and Next Steps
At his September plea hearing, Mouawad tearfully apologized in court, committing to personal improvement and a desire to continue his policing career. His lawyer emphasized Mouawad’s early admission of wrongdoing and cooperation with authorities, portraying him as a minor figure swept up in a larger case. Mouawad, who had been a police officer for just over a year before his arrest, was suspended without pay and will now face a disciplinary hearing that will determine his future with the police service.
Second Guilty Plea in Project South
Mouawad is the second officer to plead guilty in connection with Project South. In July, former constable Derek McCormick admitted to two charges related to the investigation. The Project South probe continues to examine alleged links between police misconduct and organized crime activity.
Source: cbc.ca.
