A real estate agent from Vaughan has pleaded guilty to an extortion charge on Wednesday, following a plot uncovered through wiretaps in a major police corruption investigation known as Project South.
Mahyar Soldouzi, 43, entered his guilty plea for conspiracy to commit extortion at Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice in Toronto Wednesday morning.
The court, presided over by Crown Justice Catherine H. Rhinelander, heard that Soldouzi intended to extort more than $20,000 from a contractor with assistance from Ryan Cribbie, a 34-year-old from Barrie who is also facing charges in Project South.
Soldouzi proposed paying Cribbie to recover an alleged debt from a contractor who he claimed failed to complete work at his parents’ home, according to the statement of facts presented in court.
The intended crime did not take place, as revealed during the hearing. The two had discussed the plan multiple times between October and December last year based on Cribbie’s phone records mentioned in the agreed statement of facts.
Soldouzi surrendered himself to York police on February 4, 2026. He will serve a conditional sentence of 16 months within the community followed by two years of probation.
He will be under full house arrest for six months and then five months with a curfew as part of his sentencing, according to the court. Additionally, Soldouzi was ordered to provide DNA samples.
WATCH | Police charged in corruption probe allegedly seen drinking, doing drugs in vehicles:
Cops charged in Project South allegedly seen drinking, doing drugs in vehicles
Toronto officers implicated in the Project South investigation were reportedly observed consuming alcohol and using drugs while being monitored. CBC’s Angelina King discusses how investigators manage the need for public safety alongside their larger inquiry.
The Project South investigation kicked off in June 2025 after York Regional Police intervened to stop an alleged plot targeting a senior corrections officer at Toronto South Detention Centre. This led initially to charges against seven police officers from Toronto along with one retired constable and 19 civilians.
Cribbie’s phone conversations were recorded as part of this inquiry according to court documents. He faces charges for conspiracy to commit extortion and two counts related to careless storage of firearms within Project South; however, these allegations have yet to go through trial and he has not been convicted.
Plan Involved Threats of Violence
According to the statement of facts, Soldouzi and Cribbie met through Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
In an intercepted call on December 3, 2025, Cribbie told Soldouzi he was considering using violence against the contractor identified by police as Alireza Jamalsalahi in order to collect the alleged debt.
This conversation included threats from Cribbie about throwing a Molotov cocktail through Jamalsalahi’s window and threatening bodily harm like breaking legs based on details found in court documents.
During that same call, Soldouzi advised Cribbie to “do what you gotta do,” according to the agreed statement of facts. The documents also mention that Jamalsalahi and his wife received calls regarding payment owed for contractor services rendered.
Jamalsalahi appeared via video link during court proceedings stating that he and his family had no choice but leave their home due safety concerns raised during this situation. A family living below them with young children was also forced out due these issues.
WATCH | Toronto police officer accused of tracking victims by GPS in Project South investigation:
Newly released court documents reveal new details about allegations against several Toronto officers involved in this corruption probe including one who supposedly helped install GPS trackers so that women could be followed around town even though claims have yet been verified; shedding further light onto an ongoing operation referred too simply as ‘Project South.’ p >
“Police officers came into our home telling my wife and I that we were at risk and needed leave immediately,” Jamalsalahi shared via victim impact statements read aloud during hearings. p >
According him , these incidents left him feeling anxious regarding both his own life along with that of his wife’s while also causing emotional stress financially burdensome medical conditions stemming directly connected stress. p >
As part restitution efforts , soldouzai was instructed reimburse jamalsali for unpaid rent resulting tenants incurred when they vacated residence. p >
Before final sentencing occurred , soldouzai expressed remorse over actions taken throughout process. p >
During hearings it was noted intent always existed plead guilty which contributed judge deciding against imposing jail time altogether – additionally completed volunteer service totaling eighty-five hours prior appearing before courts. p >
Furthermore judge mandated no contact whatsoever must occur between soldouzai & either victim or cribbe going forward.” P >
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