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Dec 16, 2023

Accused MS

The Toronto man, 27, was one of eight arrested in Project Rebellion, launched after an innocent man was shot in Schomberg Within months of his arrest for alleged ties to the ruthless international

The Toronto man, 27, was one of eight arrested in Project Rebellion, launched after an innocent man was shot in Schomberg

Within months of his arrest for alleged ties to the ruthless international crime gang MS-13, a 27-year-old man has been released on bail and is now on the run.

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York Regional Police say the hunt is on for one of the eight accused in Project Rebellion – an investigation sparked by the February shooting of an innocent man in Schomberg – after he removed his court-ordered GPS ankle bracelet.

Brayan Jiminez-Arguijo was not implicated in the shooting when he was arrested on June 1, but he was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and participating in the activities of a criminal organization.

The Toronto man was granted bail on June 11 – just 10 days later.

“During his bail hearing, he was placed on several conditions, including a condition that he remain in his residence between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. and wear a GPS ankle bracelet at all times,” Sgt. Clint Whitney said Wednesday.

It’s believed Jiminez-Arguijo attended a court appearance on Aug. 11 but his location is now unknown.

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Whitney said police learned Jiminez-Arguijo did not return to his Rexdale residence on Sunday night and that he had removed the GPS ankle bracelet.

Officers later found the bracelet ditched in a parking lot near Islington and Bergamot Aves., Whitney said.

“Investigators have searched for the suspect but have not yet located him, An arrest warrant has been issued,” he added.

Investigators have previously alleged the drive-by shooting that seriously injured a man, 65, near his home in Schomberg was an attempted hit by hired guns believed to have targeted the wrong person.

“The victim had been walking his dog on a quiet residential street when a car passed him at a high rate of speed,” Whitney said in a statement June 2. “Multiple gunshots were fired from the vehicle and the man was struck several times.”

“The victim is going through a lengthy recovery process but will survive,” the officer noted at the time.

The incident stunned residents of the village west of Newmarket and later led to the arrests of three suspects in the shooting believed to be members of the Mara Salvatrucha street gang – commonly known as MS-13.

Carlos Ricardo Gutierrez, 27, Kenny Banchon Urbina, 30, and Carlos Pena Torrez, 34, all of Toronto, were charged with conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, as well as with weapons and drug offences.

Police have alleged the trio, all of whom remain in custody, were “hired by an organized crime group to kill a man” but they “targeted the wrong person.”

The investigation launched in the wake of the drive-by – dubbed Project Rebellion – led to the execution of search warrants at locations in Toronto between May 18 and June 1.

Officers allegedly seized a handgun, an AK-47 assault rifle with ammunition, and a drum magazine, as well as cocaine and fentanyl, and they arrested another five suspects.

Jimenez-Arguijo and the four others – Lida Valeria Flores Pineda, 23, Eddie Garcia Corrales, 37, Juan Diego Monsalve Trujillo, 20, and Ronald Alexander Morataya Cruz, 42 – were each charged with a variety of criminal offences.

Jimenez-Arguijo now also faces a charge for failure to comply with a judicial release order.

Police are asking the public for help finding the accused but warn anyone who spots Jimenez-Arguijo to steer clear of him and 911 immediately.

“Mr. Jiminez-Arguijo is encouraged to seek legal counsel and turn himself in immediately,” Whitney said, adding “anyone providing assistance to the suspect while he is at large may be subject to criminal charges.”

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jimenez-Arguijo is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6970, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

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@sundoucette

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