UPDATE: On Feb. 19, ALERT confirmed wanted human trafficking suspect Jonty Jean was arrested in southwest Edmonton on the night of Feb. 18 with the help of Edmonton police and following a tip from the public. Co-accused Andrew Elien-Abbot remains at large. He is believed to be armed and likely in the Quebec area.
One man has been arrested and two more are wanted on Canada-wide warrants following a human trafficking investigation in the Edmonton area.
Members of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team said they could not release many details because the investigation is before the courts, but described the incident as “disturbing” and “violent.”
“The details of this investigation are deplorable. Deplorable and sadistic,” ALERT CEO Supt. Dwayne Lakusta said Thursday morning.
The investigation started in September 2020. ALERT alleges three men were involved in human trafficking in the Edmonton area and that a sex trade worker was violently assaulted.
“Together they are facing 24 charges with the allegation that they committed a sexual assault with one or more people and it involved a firearm,” said Staff Sgt. Lance Parker, with the ALERT human trafficking unit.
“This is truly sickening and what this victim endured is appalling. This survivor has displayed remarkable courage in providing information to police.
“The incident in its totality was disturbing. It was violent. I can’t give too many intimate details just because it’s freshly before the courts but it was one of the more disturbing ones that I have been a part of over my career.”
Parker said the investigation began in Edmonton but also involved authorities in Quebec.
“The incident took place in Alberta but also there was some stuff that happened out in Montreal,” he said.
With the help of the Edmonton Police Service, two Edmonton homes were searched as part of the investigation. ALERT said more than $70,000 cash and a small amount of drugs were seized.
ALERT believes there may be additional victims and is encouraging others to come forward to police.
“We want to ensure no other person suffers the same,” Parker said.
“We have to acknowledge that this survivor does not stand alone, that human trafficking has no place in our community,” Lakusta said.
“We owe it to these victims, these survivors, to end this disgusting practice. The victims represent someone’s daughter, someone’s mother, sister, family, friends, and it’s incumbent on all of us to stop this terrible crime.”
Parker said the victim in this investigation “is in a safe location and we have services with her. She is doing the best that she can.”
Kevin Dorcelus Cetoute, 27, was arrested in Edmonton on Feb. 16.
Canada-wide arrest warrants have been issued for Andrew Elien Abbot, 26, and Jonty Jean, 21. ALERT said the suspects are believed to be in the Edmonton area but also have extensive ties to Quebec.
“The best information that we have right now is one, we believe is in the Edmonton area and the other one is in Quebec,” Parker said. It’s not known which suspect may still be in the Edmonton area.
Cetoute was charged with:
- Trafficking in a person
- Sexual assault while using a firearm
- Gang sexual assault
- Firearm use while committing an offence
- Procuring
- Forcible confinement
- Assault
- Assault with a weapon
- Possession of a drug
- Possession of property obtained by crime
Abbot is facing charges of:
- Trafficking in a person
- Sexual assault while using a firearm
- Gang sexual assault
- Use of an imitation firearm while attempting to commit an offence
- Assault causing bodily harm
- Procuring
- Forcible confinement
Jean is facing charges of:
- Trafficking in a person
- Sexual assault while using a firearm
- Gang sexual assault
- Use of an imitation firearm while attempting to commit an offence
- Procuring
- Forcible confinement
- Theft
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Abbot or Jean is asked to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers.
ALERT said the suspects are likely armed and should not be approached.
- B.C. Sikh leader ‘vindicated’ by arrest of Indian nationals in Nijjar killing
- How toy guns brandished by Ontario youth in ‘assassins game’ is prompting real fear
- London Drugs remains closed, says it is reviewing billions of lines of data
- Trump trial hears recording discussing hush money scheme: ‘What do we got to pay?’
Comments