The Aporia · 10-year sentence for Toronto carjacker who tried to shoot off-duty cop

Betsy Powell

10 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 Pleterski came to broader public attention as Ontario’s self‑styled “Crypto King” after Durham Regional Police arrested him for fraud on May 14, 2024, alleging he used investors’ money to bankroll a lavish lifestyle rather than trade in cryptocurrency and foreign‑exchange markets, as he had promised.

2026-10-29 · assertive framing · What the jury didn't hear at the 'Crypto King' trial: Why he didn't have a lawyer — and why the judge said 'I am not fooled'

🔮 The teen, who has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorder, will receive intensive, clinically driven programming during custody, followed by tightly supervised community reintegration.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · Paid teen assassin sentenced to 'intensive rehabilitative' custody for murder of Toronto tow driver

🔮 “Whatever opinions people may have of me, my financial affairs or the circumstances that preceded these events, no financial dispute justifies kidnapping, violence or intimidation.”

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · 'Crypto King' switches courtrooms to attend his kidnapper's sentencing hearing. Then came an even odder twist

🔮 “I know a lot of big entrepreneurs these days in the crypto space are younger kids, very savvy,” Singh said, citing global examples of billionaires who launched companies in their teens or early twenties. “I kept on hearing about him over and over and over, so I thought he was a sharp kid — could be one of those unicorns.”

2026-10-15 · assertive framing · A real estate developer told jurors he trusted the 'Crypto King’ with $3.6M. Then he secretly recorded their calls

🔮 He said he was licensed — she wasn’t sure of the details — and that he invested money in foreign currency and would take a 30 per cent cut of any profits.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · A dental hygienist told court how she trusted the 'Crypto King' with her savings. Then he went 'cold turkey'

🔮 As other investors this week testified, Learning said Pleterski told him his principal was guaranteed and he could expect weekly returns of between five and 10 per cent.

2026-10-10 · assertive framing · Former ‘Crypto King’ associate tells court how he discovered millions owed to investors was missing

🔮 Renting high‑end cars is “addictive,” and Pleterski would come back with stories about going out and enjoying himself, Wilson said.

2026-10-08 · assertive framing · Self-represented ‘Crypto King' tells his Ontario fraud trial: ‘I need a lawyer’

🔮 Things changed dramatically once Pleterski began soliciting money after telling people it would be used for foreign‑exchange trading or to buy commodities such as gold or cryptocurrency, Patterson said. “He told them their principal was guaranteed.

2026-10-07 · assertive framing · 'Crypto King' sold investors on returns of 5% a week — he spent their money instead: Crown says

🔮 Her son was on his way to the downtown Toronto courtroom but fell ill en route from Dryden, Ont., and had to turn back, “so that reunion hopefully will occur in the near future,” her lawyer, James Lockyer, told the court.

2026-09-29 · assertive framing · Ontario mom cleared of 'miscarriage of justice' in baby's 1999 death. Her manslaugher conviction based on 'discredited' shaken baby syndrome

🔮 When he identified himself as a police officer and yelled at him to stop, Abdoul Bah responded: “I will shoot you, man.”

2026-09-28 · assertive framing · 10-year sentence for Toronto carjacker who tried to shoot off-duty cop

Also by Betsy Powell

What the jury didn't hear at the 'Crypto King' trial: Why he didn't have a lawyer — and why the judge said 'I am not fooled'

2026-10-29 · Toronto Star

Paid teen assassin sentenced to 'intensive rehabilitative' custody for murder of Toronto tow driver

2026-10-24 · Toronto Star

'Crypto King' switches courtrooms to attend his kidnapper's sentencing hearing. Then came an even odder twist

2026-10-16 · Toronto Star

A real estate developer told jurors he trusted the 'Crypto King’ with $3.6M. Then he secretly recorded their calls

2026-10-15 · Toronto Star

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 10 articles by Betsy Powell →

Off-duty Toronto Police Const. Igor Zdrazhko was unarmed and eating pizza in a Scarborough plaza just after midnight on Sept. 10, 2022, when two masked men nearby attempted to carjack a nearby vehicle. asserted

men → eat → vehicle

The driver fought them off, prompting the pair to flee. asserted

driver → fight → pair

Zdrazhko quickly leapt into action. asserted

Zdrazhko → leap → action

He pursued the suspects on foot, following one of them into a field. asserted

He → pursue → field

When he identified himself as a police officer and yelled at him to stop, Abdoul Bah responded: “I will shoot you, man.” asserted

I → identify → you

Bah then tried to fire his weapon, but it jammed. asserted

it → try → weapon

After taking cover, Zdrazhko continued to pursue him into a wooded area, where the two struggled. asserted

two → take → area

During the fight, Bah — still holding the gun — repeated his threat to shoot the officer, a married father of two. asserted

Bah → hold → two

Zdrazhko eventually wrestled the firearm away and held Bah until officers from 42 Division arrived. asserted

officers → wrestle → Division

Police recovered a loaded 9‑mm semi‑automatic pistol at the scene. asserted

Police → recover → scene

Zdrazhko was named the Toronto Police Service’s officer of the year in 2023 for his bravery. asserted

Zdrazhko → name → bravery

“My only goal was to stop this male, and I know that I can do this, and it is my job to do this,” Zdrazhko said at the ceremony held at police headquarters in May 2023. uncertain

Zdrazhko → stop → May

Late last year, Bah pleaded guilty to several firearms offences and robbery. asserted

Bah → plead → offences

A charge of attempted murder was withdrawn after a preliminary hearing. asserted

charge → attempt → hearing

For the young criminals behind the auto theft crisis, a carjacking promises “easy money.” asserted

carjacking → promise → money

But often, their victims are changed forever. asserted

victims → change → ?

For the young criminals behind the auto theft crisis, a carjacking promises “easy money.” asserted

carjacking → promise → money

But often, their victims are changed forever. asserted

victims → change → ?

The Crown was seeking a sentence of nine to 10 years; the defence recommended a six-year sentence, noting Bah’s remorse and the fact he has no criminal record. asserted

he → seek → record

On Monday, Superior Court Justice Rob Goldstein said the gravity of the offences warrants a 10‑year penitentiary term to properly reflect the sentencing principles of deterrence and denunciation Bah, now 23, has already spent three years in pre-sentence custody, leaving him four years left to serve. “This case is something of a perfect storm for criminal troubles in Toronto,” Goldstein said, reading from his sentencing decision. asserted

Goldstein → say → decision

“It involves handguns, carjacking, and an attempt to fire a gun at a police officer.” asserted

It → involve → officer

He added that courts have commented again and again “on the perniciousness of firearms and the message that must be sent to those that carry them. asserted

that → add → them

In his victim impact statement, Zdrazhko wrote that while he wrestled with Bah, he was terrified and thought about his family, who are still fearful when he works late. asserted

he → write → family

Goldstein noted it “was only by great good fortune” that the gun jammed. asserted

gun → note → fortune

The judge praised the officer’s “incredibly brave” actions that evening. asserted

judge → praise → actions

He noted that Bah was also extremely fortunate that he could have easily found himself facing a much more serious situation, possibly a charge of first-degree murder. uncertain

himself → note → murder

10-year sentence for Toronto carjacker who tried to shoot off-duty cop

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