A human trafficking investigation that began in Innisfil three years ago has resulted in guilty verdicts for four people.
South Simcoe Police say the case started in May 2023 after a female reported she was being held against her will at an Innisfil residence and was being exploited for sex trafficking. The victim was located by police, removed from the situation, and taken to safety. Investigators say she also reported being sexually assaulted by one of the suspects.
The investigation, dubbed Project Chameleon, also identified additional victims.
In November 2023, officers from South Simcoe Police, Barrie Police and York Regional Police executed search warrants at properties in Innisfil and Newmarket. Three people were arrested at that time and charged with human trafficking offences, sexual services offences, and drug-related offences. A fourth suspect turned themselves in later that month, and they were charged with human trafficking and sexual service s offences.
Three more people were arrested and charged in December.
In February 2024, one of the accused who was charged with drug offences had their charges withdrawn upon entering a peace bond for twelve months.
On Wednesday, June 3, 2026, following a 10-week trial in Barrie, four of the accused were found guilty and were convicted of the following offences:
40-year-old Tyrone Dias of Newmarket:
- Trafficking in persons - 3 counts
- Material benefit from the trafficking of persons - 2 counts
- Procuring (sexual services) - 2 counts
- Material Benefit from sexual services - 2 counts
32-year-old Jashyna Singh of Mississauga:
- Trafficking in persons - 3 counts
- Material benefit from trafficking of persons -2 counts
- Procuring (sexual services) - 2 counts
- Material benefit from sexual services - 2 counts
46-year-old Joseph Carvalho of Newmarket:
- Trafficking in persons - 1 count
- Material benefit from the trafficking of persons - 2 counts
- Procuring (sexual services) - 2 counts
- Material benefit from sexual services - 2 counts
40-year-old Oneil Hopkinson of Newmarket:
- Trafficking in persons - 2 counts
- Material benefit from the trafficking of persons - 2 counts
- Procuring (sexual services) - 1 count
- Material benefit from sexual services - 1 count
- sexual assault - 2 counts
Police say one of the accused, 39-year-old Edgar Martinez of Innisfil, pleaded guilty before the start of the trial and was convicted of one count each of trafficking in persons and sexual assault.
According to investigators, Dias and Singh are scheduled to stand trial for drug offences related to Project Chameleon in November.
