Accused extortionist hit with additional charges

A 26-year-old Ontario man is facing seven additional charges in connection with extortion and arson incidents that targeted convenience stores in Winnipeg in July 2025.

Winnipeg police said Jahaid Hossain Maruf of Kitchener, Ont. — who has been in custody since October 2025, when he was charged with two counts of extortion — was involved in planning and organizing the offences.

Maruf was rearrested at the Winnipeg Remand Centre last week. He is charged with five counts of conspiracy to commit extortion, as well as charges of arson causing damage to property and arson with disregard for human life. He remains in custody.

In January, city police announced the arrests of four men and a woman, including Maruf. The others were Cora Renae Penner, 32; James Dean Herda, 33; Jerry Marcel Martin, 49; and Lorenzo Lucas, 65. All five have been charged with extortion-related charges.

The charges stemmed from incidents involving four core-area convenience stores, an unoccupied warehouse, as well as 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 Avenue and another on Spruce Street.

In one case, court documents allege the accused threatened staff and warned they would “burn this place down.”

Canada-wide warrants have been issued for two accused who remain at large. Farhan Nabil, 29, is charged with arson and extortion-related offences. Jermaine Weekes, 40, is charged with two counts of extortion.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca