Further arrest in Robbery of escort workers, Girl, 16, charged

The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of an arrest in a series of Robberies related to escort workers.

On Wednesday, December 10, 2014, Toronto Hold Up made several arrests in relation to a series of robberies related to escort victims and a press conference was held at that time.

See excerpt from previous news release.

The Toronto Police Service would like to make the public aware of three arrests in a violent robbery investigation and further charges.

It is alleged that:

- on Saturday, October 25, 2014, Monday, October 27, 2014, and Sunday, December 7, 2014, three women, 20, 19 and 28, respectively, were in west-end hotels, working in the sex trade

- on all three occasions, a man knocked on the room door

- when the women opened the door, they were rushed by three men, a girl, and another woman

- the group ransacked the rooms, assaulting the victims, and stole their personal belongings


It is further alleged that:

- on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, a 22-year-old woman was in a west-end hotel, working in the sex trade

- a man knocked on the room door

- when the woman opened the door, she was rushed by three men

- the group ransacked the rooms, assaulted the victims, and stole their personal belongings

- the woman was then sexually assaulted by two of the men

- police were called


On Tuesday, December 9, 2014, police arrested two men and a girl.

Lenford Richards, 20, of Toronto, is charged in connection with five robberies, with:

1) six counts of Robbery
2) six counts of Forcible Confinement
3) Weapons Dangerous
4) five counts of Fail to Comply
5) Gang Sexual Assault

He is scheduled to appear in court at 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

Kevin Baigorria, 22, of Toronto, is charged in connection with the first three robberies, with:

1) four counts of Robbery
2) four counts of Forcible Confinement
3) Weapons Dangerous

He is scheduled to appear in court at 2201 Finch Avenue West, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

A 17 year-old girl, of Toronto, is charged in connection with the first three robberies, with:

1) four counts of Robbery
2) four counts of Forcible Confinement

She is scheduled to appear in court at 311 Jarvis Street, on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.


It is also alleged that, during the arrest of Lenford Richards, a 29-year-old woman was being held by him against her will.

It is alleged that:

- on Tuesday, December 9, 2014, she was in an east-end hotel, working in the sex-trade

- a man knocked on the hotel room door

- when the woman opened the door, she was rushed by three men

- the group ransacked the rooms, assaulted the victims, and stole their personal belongings

- not having cash on hand, the group then demanded she make arrangements for someone else to attend with money

- the money was delivered, but she continued to be forcibly confined


Three people are still outstanding:

1) a black man, in connection with all five robberies
2) a white man, in connection with the last two robberies
3) a black woman, in connection with the first three robberies

The three arrested are being investigated for similar robberies of women in the sex-trade around the GTA.

Police believe there may be other victims.

As a result of the continued investigation, on Monday, March 23, 2015, Toronto Police Hold Up arrested a girl, 16, who cannot be identified under the provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

She is charged with:

1) five counts of Robbery
2) four counts of Forcible Confinement
3) Conspiracy to Commit
4) two counts of Assault
5) Fail to Attend Court

She appeared in court at 2201 Finch Avenue West on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, room 204.


For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.