Man accused of extortion in Winnipeg arrested in Toronto
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A man accused in an extortion scheme targeting Winnipeg convenience stores last summer has been arrested in Toronto, while one other suspect remains at large.
Earlier this month, Toronto Police Service officers arrested Jermaine Weekes, 41, in that city on a warrant obtained by the Winnipeg Police Service for extortion, city police said on Thursday.
He has since been turned over to Winnipeg major crimes detectives and held in custody for court proceedings in Manitoba on two counts of extortion.
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Jermaine Weekes, 40, has been charged with two counts of extortion at Winnipeg convenience stores last summer.
Police are still searching for Farhan Nabil, 29, on two counts each of conspiracy to commit arson and conspiracy to commit extortion.
Detectives asked anyone with information on Nabil’s whereabouts to call the major crimes office at 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS).
Winnipeg police arrested five of the seven accused in the extortion scheme late last year.
Those previously arrested are Cora Renae Penner, 32; James Dean Herda, 33; Jahaid Hossain Maruf, 26; Jerry Marcel Martin, 49; and Lorenzo Lucas, 65. All five face extortion-related charges.
The charges stem from incidents involving four core-area convenience stores, an unoccupied warehouse, and a retail business on Portage Avenue, where a theft was reported.
Three of the targeted convenience stores were located on Selkirk Avenue.
Two arsons were reported at businesses on Selkirk and another on Spruce Street.
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Police continue to search for Farhan Nabil, 29, who is suspected of arson and extortion.
In one case, court documents allege the accused threatened store staff, warning they would “burn this place down.”
The incidents took place between July 16 and July 24 last year, a police inspector previously told the Free Press.
Police previously described the seven people — some are from out of province — as an organized group with connections to Manitoba who came to Winnipeg to facilitate the extortion attempts.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca