Nova Scotia man arrested for human trafficking in Toronto faces 5 new charges

UPDATE, DEC. 13, 2019: The Nova Scotia man in the story below (originally published on Sept. 23, 2016) ended up facing a total of 14 charges. In 2018, an Ontario Superior Court justice found him not guilty of all human trafficking-related charges and not guilty of all charges related to concealing another person's identification documents. He was, however, found guilty of two counts of procuring to offer sexual services of another person age 18. He was sentenced to time-served in custody and two years probation.

Original story:

A man arrested last fall for allegedly recruiting a Halifax teen and forcing her to work at a Toronto spa is facing five new human trafficking charges after a second alleged victim came forward — and police are concerned there could be others.

The 24-year-old man was first arrested in September 2016 following a human trafficking investigation that began in April 2015. At the time, he faced eight charges including trafficking of a person under the age of 18 and forcible confinement. 

Police alleged then that he convinced a 17-year-old to come with him to Toronto, where they say he destroyed her identification and gave her new ones, to show she was an adult.

​The girl was then reportedly forced to provide sexual services to clients at the spa and turn any money over to him.

Following that investigation, police say, another alleged victim came forward — this time, a woman. He now has five more charges including trafficking and material benefit from sexual services.

He appeared in court in Toronto on Jan. 20.

Police are asking anyone who may be a victim to come forward, if not to proceed with criminal charges, to access support services.