Arrests made in Human Trafficking Investigation,
Two men face 32 criminal charges,
Photographs released
Broadcast time: 13:00
Date: Friday, May 7, 2021
Unit: Sex Crimes
Phone: 416-808-7474
Case #: 2021-345108
The Toronto Police Service would like to advise the public of an arrest in an ongoing human trafficking investigation.
It is alleged:
- during February 2021, a girl entered into a romantic relationship with a man
- in a short period of time, the girl was coerced to work within the sex trade
- the girl was sexually assaulted, assaulted, threatened, given illegal drugs, and her money and documents were withheld by two men
The Toronto Police Service Human Trafficking Enforcement Team commenced an investigation and identified two men.
It is further alleged:
- one of the men forcibly confined a witness in the investigation and brandished an imitation firearm, in an attempt to obstruct justice
On Tuesday, March 2, 2021, Ananya Demisse, 21, of Toronto, was arrested. He is charged with:
1. Trafficking in Persons Under 18 years
2. Attempt to Obstruct Justice
3. Forcible Confinement
4. Procuring Person under 18 years
5. Exercise Control over person
6. Material Benefit from Sexual Services Provided by Person Under 18 years
7. Advertising Another Person’s Sexual Services
8. Withhold identity Document Person under 18 years
9. two counts of Uttering Threats/Death or bodily Harm
10. two counts of Theft under $5000 C.C. 334(b)
11. Assault
12. Possess Child Pornography
13. Make Child Pornography
14. Distribute Child Pornography
15. Possession of Proceeds of Crime
16. two counts of Use Imitation Firearm to commit Indictable Offence
17. Weapons Dangerous
18. Fail to Comply Release Order
19. three counts of Traffic in Schedule 1 Substance C.D.S.A 5(1)
20. two counts of Possession for the purposes of Trafficking Schedule 1 Substance
He appeared in court at Old City Hall, on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
On Thursday, April 29, 2021, Deandre Williams, 21, of Toronto, was arrested. He is charged with:
1. two counts of Sexual Assault
2. two counts of Assault
3. Procuring Exercising Control Over a Person under 18 years
4. Uttering Threats
He appeared in court at 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Thursday, April 29, 2021.
Investigators believe there may be more victims and witnesses, and are appealing to the public to come forward with any new information.
Officers would like to encourage all affected individuals to come forward and report Human Trafficking occurrences to police. We want to make sure that everyone has access to support services and an exit strategy, regardless of their decision to proceed criminally.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
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, please visit our Sex Crimes website.
Human Trafficking means every person who recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals or harbours a person, or exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation, for a sexual purpose or a forced labour purpose. Victims can be men, women or children; can be Canadian citizens; and can be moved across local, provincial or national borders. They can be coerced through violence or the threat of violence against family and friends. The Human Trafficking Enforcement Team of Sex Crimes is dedicated to investigating these crimes against vulnerable members of society. For more information, please visit the Sex Crimes website.
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca
Constable Jenifferjit Sidhu, Corporate Communications, for Detective Constable Dana Reitsma , Sex Crimes – Human Trafficking Enforcement Team
Above: Deandre Williams, 21, arrested in Human Trafficking Investigation. Police believe there are more victims.
Above: Ananya Demisse, 21, arrested in Human Trafficking Investigation. Police believe there are more victims.