An alleged plot targeting a prison official that sparked a legal case involving police corruption and organized crime, dubbed Project South, was orchestrated by suspects who hired individuals under fake names through an encrypted messaging platform, as per legal documents. Leading up to the purported attempted assassination, suspects purportedly utilized the Signal app to exchange personal details and images of the victim, a high-ranking corrections officer at Toronto South Detention Centre whose identity remains shielded by a publication restriction. These claims are outlined in a legal submission submitted by Crown prosecutors in the Ontario Superior Court last month. Based on conversations found on confiscated cellphones, the document outlines how an alleged network specializing in contract killings is accused of being linked to the supposed murder attempt.
The Project South inquiry was initiated in June 2025 following an incident where York Regional Police averted the purported assassination attempt after the suspect’s vehicle collided with a police vehicle stationed outside the home of the prison official.
Initially, nearly 30 individuals were charged in connection with Project South, including seven active Toronto police officers and one retired constable. One of the officers, who has since retired, pleaded guilty recently, while one civilian’s charge was dropped.
On June 16, 2025, four days before the police intervention, Dequon Lemonious, identified by prosecutors as “Danny Phantom” on Signal, allegedly asked Median Jackson, known as “Lebron James,” to scout an address to confirm the presence of a specific vehicle. Lemonious reportedly shared an image of the prison official’s address and vehicle, obtained from an unauthorized search of the Ministry of Transportation’s secure database believed to have been conducted by a Toronto police officer.
“If the car is there, we need the hit squad,” Lemonious messaged Jackson, according to records. Meanwhile, amidst planning the attack, the two were discussing other potential criminal activities. Lemonious allegedly supplied information to Jackson, who subcontracted others to carry out illicit activities for financial gain.
Allegations suggest that other individuals were also approached for the job. Signal messages recovered from the cellphone of another individual implicated in the murder plot show efforts to hire someone just two days before the planned attack was thwarted by police.
Devonte Barker-Campbell, purportedly operating as “Dwayne Casey,” sent details to a Signal user named “Thunder,” including a photo of the prison official, a map displaying his address, and images of the official’s vehicle and home address from the same database search result. Thunder declined the offer, and Barker-Campbell then approached another person, identified as “Reality” on Signal.
“Bro, everything’s set. We can proceed with the plan today. My team is ready. When can we execute this?” Reality messaged Barker-Campbell two days before the attempted hit. Subsequently, arrangements were made for a group of individuals to visit the prison official’s home, as per legal documents.
Reality’s team faced challenges with their stolen vehicle, sending a video to Barker-Campbell. Prosecutors allege this is the same blue Acura intercepted by police at the official’s residence during the incident. Inside the vehicle were Almar Heath, two unidentified youths, a loaded firearm, masks, gloves, and Heath’s phone, displaying GPS directions to the corrections officer’s home, according to legal filings.
Heath, Jackson, Lemonious, Barker-Campbell, and two juveniles face charges related to the conspiracy to murder the prison official. None of the accusations have been proven in court.
Attorneys representing Heath and Barker-Campbell declined to provide statements. Counsel for Jackson did not respond to CBC News. Lemonious is currently without legal representation.
During the investigation, York police discovered that Toronto police Const. Timothy Barnhardt allegedly accessed and shared confidential information about the senior corrections officer from the MTO database. Barnhardt’s legal team intends to address the allegations in court rather than in the media.
The blue Acura was first spotted near the corrections officer’s home two days before the police operation. Upon the official’s return home from work, his grandfather was confronted by an armed individual in a mask, inquiring about a vehicle in the driveway. The suspects fled in the blue Acura, which was later observed near the residence on subsequent days, leading to the arrests.
Additionally, a video of the blue Acura was found on Jackson’s phone, showing him and Lemonious discussing a shooting incident at a restaurant. The vehicle encountered issues, prompting the use of another vehicle in the shooting, as per court documents.
