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A Mississauga man now faces new charges for allegedly trafficking women for sex in the GTA and elsewhere in Ontario.
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Toronto Police say a human trafficking investigation in Toronto and Mississauga was initially launched in June.
“It is alleged that through a combination of deception, coercion, and control, the accused trafficked a 32-year-old female victim,” police said in a statement released Friday night.
“The victim was forced to take sexualized pictures which were subsequently distributed online,” police allege. “The money earned by the victim was surrendered over to the accused and was kept by him.”
Investigators subsequently identified a suspect and arrested him on July 23.
Elijah Benjamin, 36, was charged with assault, theft over $5,000, procuring and advertising another person’s sexual services, trafficking in persons over 18 and other offences.
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More alleged victims identified
As a result of further investigation in Toronto and elsewhere in Ontario, police allege the same man trafficked a second 32-year-old woman using the same methods.
Benjamin was re-arrested on July 30 and charged with procuring, trafficking in persons by recruiting, advertising another person’s sexual services, living on the avails of prostitution, material benefit from sexual services, assault with a weapon and two counts of assault.
Police said the investigation has been ongoing and a third alleged victim was identified this month.
“It is further alleged that through coercion and control, the accused attempted to recruit a 31-year-old female into the sex trade,” police said.
“The victim met the accused through an online dating app,” police alleged. “The victim was sexually assaulted by the accused on multiple occasions.”
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New charges laid
Benjamin turned himself into police on Friday and he was re-arrested.
The accused has now been additionally charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of procuring.
Investigators are concerned about the possibility of other alleged victims.
The accused was previously known as Eric Smart and he also uses the aliases Jay and Jason, police alleged, adding he allegedly “met all three victims on an online dating app.”
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call police at 416-808-4838 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
cdoucette@postmedia.com
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