Toronto, May 20: The Toronto Police has charged a man and woman for 11 counts of criminal charges in connection to a human trafficking investigation, in a press release yesterday.
The press release elaborated that, “In April 2021, a female victim met a man on the social media platform Snapchat. The man’s user name was ‘driptastic’. The woman then entered into what she believed to be a romantic relationship with the man. In a short period of time, the girl was coerced to work within the sex trade against her will by the man and another woman. All the money she made was kept from her; as were her personal belongings.”
Basically, on May 12 police arrested 29 years old Joshua Oliver and 22 years old Marianna Benkartoussa in this connection. They have been charged with procuring/exercising control, advertising another person’s sexual services, trafficking in persons, material Benefit from sexual services and financial material benefit from trafficking person over 18. In addition, Oliver faces an extra charge for theft not exceeding $5,000.
They appeared in court virtually at College Park Courts on, Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 9:30 AM at Room 507. Police has released both of their photographs as they are concerned there could be more victims.
In the said police release, police “encourage all affected individuals to come forward and report Human Trafficking occurrences to police,” police said. “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 being asked to contact police at 416-808-7474 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS.
