On Sunday, May 29, 2016, the Toronto Police Service started an investigation into a Human Trafficking occurrence.
It is alleged that:
- in August 2015, a 16-year-old girl met a man at a party
- he told her he would take care of her and that she could live with him and his roommate, another woman
- he was aware that she was only 16
- he took photographs of her in various stages of undress and uploaded the photos to backpages.com, advertising sexual services
- he took her to and from various hotels in the GTA, forcing her to turn all her earnings over to him
- he continually demanded she work more and make more money
- she worked almost every night and turned all of her money over to him as she was instructed
- the man and the woman, his roommate, used the money that the girl made for their car insurance, rent and food for their family
- he became physically abusive towards her and threatened that he would kill her if she ever left him
- on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after she worked as instructed, the man and woman assaulted her, causing injuries requiring her to go to hospital
- police were then contacted
On Wednesday, June 1, 2016, the man and woman were arrested.
Akeil Purcell, 27, of Toronto, is charged with:
1) Procure to Become a Prostitute (under 18)
2) Trafficking in Persons (under 18)
3) Trafficking in Person - Receive Material Benefit (under 18)
4) Exercise Control (under 18)
5) Material Benefit from Sexual Services (under 18)
6) Make Child Pornography
7) Possess Child Pornography
8) Distribute Child Pornography
9) Utter Death Threats
10) Assault
11) Assault Causing Bodily Harm
Shanika Spaulding, 24, of Toronto, is charged with:
1) Material Benefit from Sexual Services (under 18)
2) Assault
They both appeared in court at College Park on Thursday, June 2, 2016, 10 a.m.
Police are concerned there may be other victims.
Police 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). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.
It is alleged that:
- in August 2015, a 16-year-old girl met a man at a party
- he told her he would take care of her and that she could live with him and his roommate, another woman
- he was aware that she was only 16
- he took photographs of her in various stages of undress and uploaded the photos to backpages.com, advertising sexual services
- he took her to and from various hotels in the GTA, forcing her to turn all her earnings over to him
- he continually demanded she work more and make more money
- she worked almost every night and turned all of her money over to him as she was instructed
- the man and the woman, his roommate, used the money that the girl made for their car insurance, rent and food for their family
- he became physically abusive towards her and threatened that he would kill her if she ever left him
- on Sunday, May 29, 2016, after she worked as instructed, the man and woman assaulted her, causing injuries requiring her to go to hospital
- police were then contacted
On Wednesday, June 1, 2016, the man and woman were arrested.
Akeil Purcell, 27, of Toronto, is charged with:
1) Procure to Become a Prostitute (under 18)
2) Trafficking in Persons (under 18)
3) Trafficking in Person - Receive Material Benefit (under 18)
4) Exercise Control (under 18)
5) Material Benefit from Sexual Services (under 18)
6) Make Child Pornography
7) Possess Child Pornography
8) Distribute Child Pornography
9) Utter Death Threats
10) Assault
11) Assault Causing Bodily Harm
Shanika Spaulding, 24, of Toronto, is charged with:
1) Material Benefit from Sexual Services (under 18)
2) Assault
They both appeared in court at College Park on Thursday, June 2, 2016, 10 a.m.
Police are concerned there may be other victims.
Police 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). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
Please download the Toronto Police Service Mobile App for iOS or Android.
For more news, visit TPSnews.ca.