Eight Charged in Peel for Human Trafficking
Published by The Toronto Star Wed Apr 27 2011

Daniela Germano Staff Reporter

Six men and two women from the Toronto and Ottawa areas are facing numerous human trafficking-related charges following an investigation by Peel Regional Police.

Investigators allege the accused were forcing young women and girls into prostitution, police said.

Peel police's vice unit contacted about 70 women through sex ads during the five-week investigation, dubbed Rescue Innocence, in February and March.

The sex workers contacted were between their mid-teens and early-20s.

"The ads were stating that they were between the ages of 18 and 23, but some of them were actually underage," said Det. Dave Van Allen of the vice unit.

"About six women and girls were rescued and the youngest was 14 years old," he added.

Raynard Bell, 28, and Brian Wright, 27, both of Toronto,
Tori-Lynn McGruthers, 18, of no fixed address,
Pawel Michon, 42, of Mississauga, Gregory Salmon, 28, of Brampton,
Juteah Downey, 33, of Kanata and
Rebekah Bloomfield, 23, and Bethuel Maseruka, 34, both of Ottawa, have been charged.


From The Sun
Cops break up Toronto sex-trade ring
By ROB LAMBERTI, QMI Agency

One girl, from the east coast, was only 14 years old.

Another 16.

Both are among six rescued from Peel Region's sex trade during the five-week Project Rescue Innocence by the region's vice cops.

The investigators reached out to 71 women, including an 18-year-old single eastern European mom who was forced into the sex trade.

A loaded .357-calibre revolver was seized from a man hiding in a motel closet during the investigation, police said.

The primary objective was to find underage girls but police were also looking for those who wanted out of the sex trade, Det. Dave Van Allen said.

The project, funded with a $47,000 grant in February from the Ontario government, focused on the exploitation of minors, Van Allen said.

One of the eight people arrested - a woman - was charged with pimping-related offences.

"We're starting to see (women involved) because the pimps want to remove themselves or protect themselves, so they're starting to trust one girl," Van Allen said.

The 14-year-old, from eastern Canada, was given bus fare to get to Ontario and then driven to the Toronto area.

She was rescued on her first night before she had handed any money over to her pimps, Van Allen said.

The 16-year-old was found in a hotel being controlled by a 28-year-old man.

"She wasn't turning over all of her money, but she was turning over a percentage of her money to him," Van Allen said.

Const. Heather Richardson said human anti-trafficking legislation adopted in 2005 was the first step in acknowledging women are victims, not the problem.

"We changed our focus: How can we help them? How can we get them out of this lifestyle?" she said. "We're now focusing on the persons who are forcing them to do it."

Deputy Chief Dan McDonald said the objective was to find victims through online ads.

Three people were arrested in connection with the 14-year-old, who was returned home, and the eastern European mom was given "immediate protection", McDonald said.

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