The Toronto Police Service would like to announce an unprecedented charge in a joint-force firearm smuggling investigation.
Detective Sergeant Robert DiDanieli, from the Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force Firearms Enforcement Unit, confirmed the Service has charged a convicted gun smuggler, Jeffrey Gilmour, 44, with an additional ten offences including Criminal Negligence Causing Death.
This is believed to be the first time in Canadian law enforcement that the charge has been applied in this type of investigation.
Dubbed Project 93, an investigation began in July 2019 targeting cross-border gun smuggling between Canada and the United States of America. The Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force Firearms Enforcement Unit (FEU) led the joint-force investigation which saw the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario (CISO), Firearms Analysis & Tracing Enforcement Program, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) assisting with identifying illegal guns found in Canada.
As a result of the investigation, Jeffrey Gilmour was arrested attempting to enter Canada from the US with three handguns concealed in his vehicle. A subsequent search warrant of his home uncovered an additional handgun. Gilmour had purchased all four handguns in Florida. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for the offences.
Following his conviction, it is alleged firearms he had purchased continued to be discovered in the GTA. This included a gun recovered in a sudden death investigation in December 2019 in the Dufferin Street and Finch Avenue West area.
It is alleged that a 19-year-old man was found in a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Investigators further allege that a revolver located in the deceased’s vehicle was one purchased by Gilmour in January 2019 in Florida.
On Thursday, October 29, 2020, Jeffrey Gilmour, 44, of Toronto, was arrested.
He is now facing the following ten charges:
1. three counts of Knowingly Possess Firearm, Device or Ammunition For Transfer
2. three counts of Import/Export Firearm, Device or Ammunition Knowing No Authority
3. three counts of Knowingly Manufacture/Transfer Firearm, Device or Ammunition
4. Criminal Negligence Causing Death
He is next scheduled to appear in court at 2201 Finch Court, at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 room 202.
“Those involved in the trafficking of illegal firearms show a wanton and reckless disregard for the lives of others by putting a lethal weapon into the hands of someone who is likely to use it for a dangerous purpose,” said DS DiDanieli.
He added: “Not only should they be held accountable for the offence of trafficking the firearm, but they should bear some responsibility for the crimes in which that firearm is used.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2510, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.
Detective Sergeant Robert DiDanieli, from the Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force Firearms Enforcement Unit, confirmed the Service has charged a convicted gun smuggler, Jeffrey Gilmour, 44, with an additional ten offences including Criminal Negligence Causing Death.
This is believed to be the first time in Canadian law enforcement that the charge has been applied in this type of investigation.
Dubbed Project 93, an investigation began in July 2019 targeting cross-border gun smuggling between Canada and the United States of America. The Integrated Gun and Gang Task Force Firearms Enforcement Unit (FEU) led the joint-force investigation which saw the Criminal Intelligence Service of Ontario (CISO), Firearms Analysis & Tracing Enforcement Program, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) assisting with identifying illegal guns found in Canada.
As a result of the investigation, Jeffrey Gilmour was arrested attempting to enter Canada from the US with three handguns concealed in his vehicle. A subsequent search warrant of his home uncovered an additional handgun. Gilmour had purchased all four handguns in Florida. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for the offences.
Following his conviction, it is alleged firearms he had purchased continued to be discovered in the GTA. This included a gun recovered in a sudden death investigation in December 2019 in the Dufferin Street and Finch Avenue West area.
It is alleged that a 19-year-old man was found in a vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Investigators further allege that a revolver located in the deceased’s vehicle was one purchased by Gilmour in January 2019 in Florida.
On Thursday, October 29, 2020, Jeffrey Gilmour, 44, of Toronto, was arrested.
He is now facing the following ten charges:
1. three counts of Knowingly Possess Firearm, Device or Ammunition For Transfer
2. three counts of Import/Export Firearm, Device or Ammunition Knowing No Authority
3. three counts of Knowingly Manufacture/Transfer Firearm, Device or Ammunition
4. Criminal Negligence Causing Death
He is next scheduled to appear in court at 2201 Finch Court, at 10 a.m., on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 room 202.
“Those involved in the trafficking of illegal firearms show a wanton and reckless disregard for the lives of others by putting a lethal weapon into the hands of someone who is likely to use it for a dangerous purpose,” said DS DiDanieli.
He added: “Not only should they be held accountable for the offence of trafficking the firearm, but they should bear some responsibility for the crimes in which that firearm is used.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2510, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.