Trafficking in persons charged against two Toronto residents
(Ottawa)—On Monday, October 24, 2016 Ottawa Police Patrol officers located a criminal enterprise offering sexual services in a hotel located in downtown Ottawa. One man and one woman from Toronto were arrested at the scene.
Young women were being transported from the Toronto area to work in the sex trade in Ottawa. The female victims – 15, 16 and 17 years of age – were all from the Toronto area.
The Ottawa Police Human Trafficking Unit laid the following charges:
Michael POKU (m), 27 years old of Toronto is charged with:
- 3 counts of Trafficking in persons under 18
- 3 counts of Trafficking in persons, receive material benefit
- 3 counts of Procuring person under 18 to provide sexual services
- 3 counts of Advertising another person’s sexual services
- 1 count of Failure to comply with judicial release
Madison BOUCHER (f), 19 years old of Toronto is charged with
- 3 counts of Trafficking in persons under 18
- 3 counts of Trafficking in persons, receive material benefit
- 3 counts of Procuring person under 18 to provide sexual services
- 3 counts of Advertising another person’s sexual services
- 1 count of Failure to comply with judicial release
- 1 count of Breach of probation
Both were held for show cause and remain in custody.