Toronto man, 27, charged in human trafficking investigation involving Instagram: police

TORONTO — A 27-year-old Toronto man is facing charges in connection with a human trafficking investigation in which police say a woman was contacted through Instagram and exploited as a sex trade worker for four months.

Police said that an 18-year-old woman was contacted through the popular photo sharing website by the suspect and the two agreed to meet at a hotel in the GTA.

Upon arriving at the hotel, police said the woman met with four men and another woman who discussed working in the sex trade as a way of making money.

READ MORE: GTA real estate agent 1 of 2 charged in Canada-wide human trafficking investigation

From Dec. 2014 and March 2015, police said the woman was exploited and worked as a sex worker.

Police said the woman was “passed around” between the group, transported between various hotels and was not allowed to keep all of her earnings. 

The woman was also “constantly monitored” and threatened by the group of people if they did not approve of her behaviour or her associations with other people, police said.

On April 29, the unnamed woman contacted police and a warrant was issued for Devone Nolan, 27, of Toronto.

READ MORE: 3rd suspect charged in Toronto-Montreal human trafficking investigation

On Friday, he was arrested and charged with trafficking in persons by recruiting, financial/material benefit trafficking person over 18, procuring/exercising control, material benefit from sexual services and uttering threats.

Nolan appeared in court in Toronto on Saturday and police believe that there may be more victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at http://www.222tips.com, by texting TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or by leaving a tip on Facebook.

A sexual assault is any form of unwanted sexual contact. It includes, but is not limited to, kissing, grabbing, oral sex and penetration. To learn more about sexual assault, including how to report a sexual assault, visit the Toronto Police Sex Crimes website.