Posted on: January 15, 2026, 09:45h.
Last updated on: January 15, 2026, 09:45h.
- Retired Toronto police officer arrested after illegal gambling investigation
- Intimidation and threats of violence to collect debts
A former Toronto officer is among those arrested after an ongoing extortion investigation into an organized crime ring that included the running of illegal gambling websites.
The York Regional Police Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau and the South Simcoe Police Service have been conducting an ongoing extortion investigation. The charges this week came out of that.
According to a York Regional Police statement, John Madeley, 55, a former Toronto cop, was arrested and charged at his Barrie, Ont., home on Tuesday.
Violent Threats
On Monday, police executed a search warrant at the Toronto home of Thomas Phippard, 47, commonly known as “Frank the Tank”.
The police said the two men, working with an organized crime group, would give victims access to gaming websites where players would place bets on credit. The activity occurred between January 2024 and October 2025.
Those who lost their bets were required to pay their debts in cash, sometimes in exaggerated amounts.
Former Police Officer
The suspects used intimidation and threats of violence to collect the debts.
Phippard was charged this week with three additional counts of extortion and uttering threats. He was charged late last year with 11 offences connected to the ongoing investigation.
Madeley was charged with breach of trust, unauthorized use of a computer, and possession of a firearm at an unauthorized place. He was also charged with possession of a prohibited device, and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000.
Police have released an image of Phippard to hopefully get other victims to come forward.
CP24 in Toronto reported that Madeley retired from the police force April 1, 2025, after 28 years of service.
