Man and woman charged in human trafficking, forced minor into sex trade: police

Toronto police have arrested and charged a man and a woman for their involvement in human trafficking after an underage female victim was forced into the sex trade “through a combination of deception, direction and control.”

Investigators said the Toronto Police Service Human Trafficking Enforcement Team looked into allegations in June. It’s alleged that the accused manipulated the victim into human trafficking.

Police noted that all of the money earned by the female victim was surrendered to the accused.

Authorities arrested two people on June 27. They were identified as 24-year-old Isaac Shakur Semi-Bi and 30-year-old Jade Marchand Rondeau.

The man faces 16 total charges. They include trafficking in persons under 18 years by exercising control, trafficking in persons under 18 years by recruiting, financial benefit/trafficking person under 18, material benefit from sexual services provided by a person under 18, procuring/recruiting a person under 18 to provide sexual services for consideration and advertising another person [for] sexual services.

The 24-year-old also faces multiple offences related to child pornography and sexual exploitation. He appeared in court on July 18.

The woman was charged with trafficking in persons under 18 years by exercising control, financial benefit/trafficking person under 18, material benefit from sexual services provided by a person under 18, unlawfully possessing schedule 1 substance, possessing schedule 1 substance for trafficking and the possession of property obtained by crime exceeding $5,000.

She appeared in court on June 30.

Police believe there may be more victims.