Two Montreal men are facing charges in connection with a human trafficking investigation that police say saw a teenage girl forced into the sex trade after connecting with a suspect through Snapchat.
Toronto police said a 19-year-old woman met a man on Snapchat and they began a relationship in March 2016.
After dating for a month, police said the man told the woman he had “spent all his money on her” and she owed him for the expenses.
READ MORE: 25% of Canada’s human trafficking victims are minors: Statistics Canada
Police said the woman was then forced into the sex trade in order to earn enough money to pay off her “debt” to the man, who allegedly took her from her home in Montreal to Toronto.
Investigators said the man took photographs of the woman in various states of undress, created advertisements for sexual services and posted them on an escort website.
The woman was then allegedly taken to numerous hotels and police said she was forced to work as an escort and turn over all of her money to the man.
Police said the man assaulted the woman numerous times, showed her a firearm and threatened to kill her and her family if she went to authorities.
READ MORE: 2 men face 20 charges in human trafficking investigation: Toronto police
A second man allegedly booked hotel rooms for the woman to work in and the two men split the profits earned, according to police.
While driving in downtown Toronto on Friday, police said the man assaulted the woman and she was able to escape the vehicle and run to a nearby store where she pleaded with the owner to call police.
Nestor Pintoschew, 27, and Francois Kesly, 25, were arrested Friday by the Toronto Police Human Trafficking Enforcement Team.
Pintoschew faces the following charges:
- Trafficking in persons over 18
- Procuring
- Material benefit from trafficking in persons over 18
- Material benefit from sexual services
- Advertising another person’s sexual services
- Assault
- Uttering threats
- Overcome resistance by attempting to choke
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized
- Store firearm contrary to regulations
- Possession of a firearm contrary to prohibition order
- Obstruct peace officer
Kesly, 25, has been charged with trafficking in persons over 18, material benefit from trafficking in persons over 18, material benefit from sexual services and advertising another person’s sexual services.
Both men appeared in a Toronto court Saturday and police said they are concerned there may be more alleged 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, or by texting TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
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