A man from Richmond Hill, Ontario, accused of orchestrating multiple shootings linked to a significant police corruption and organized crime inquiry, was refused bail in Oshawa, Ontario, on Friday. Elwyn Satanowsky, 34, faces a dozen charges for allegedly coordinating seven shootings at three residences in Vaughan, Ontario, between September 2025 and early the following month, as well as illicitly accessing a Toronto police computer system.
Satanowsky, represented by lawyer Sonya Shikhman, chose not to provide a comment on the bail ruling. He is among 19 civilians charged in Project South, a lengthy corruption investigation headed by York Regional Police. The probe led to the arrest of seven Toronto police officers and one retired constable. The investigation commenced in June last year after York police officers uncovered an alleged plot to harm a senior corrections officer at Toronto South Detention Centre.
York police Deputy Chief Ryan Hogan disclosed last month that Satanowsky has ties to the towing industry associated with Project South. Hogan alleged that Satanowsky, along with a few other civilians facing charges, obtained confidential data from Toronto police officers to aid criminal activities.
According to Hogan, the central figure in the case, Timothy Barnhardt, allegedly supplied Brian Da Costa, another accused civilian, with confidential information. This information was purportedly used in the conspiracy to harm a senior corrections officer and to further seven shootings in York Region.
Last year, CBC News reported on several shootings allegedly linked to Satanowsky, including multiple incidents at a residential property in Vaughan. One of the targeted properties is owned by a company listing the late tow truck operator Alex Vinogradsky as a director. Vinogradsky was slain in North York in 2024.
While Barnhardt was also denied bail last month, Da Costa was granted $1.5 million bail with house arrest earlier this week. Da Costa’s bail conditions prohibit contact with Barnhardt, Satanowsky, and others charged in Project South.
The list of individuals prohibited from contact also includes Gurpreet Singh, a co-accused of former Olympic snowboarder and alleged drug trafficker Ryan Wedding. Singh has been detained at Toronto South Detention Centre since his October 2024 arrest, challenging extradition to California for trial related to Wedding’s suspected drug operation. Singh is connected to Project South but has not been accused of any crimes in connection with the investigation.