Three people from Edmonton are accused of luring girls from other provinces to work in the sex trade.
Christopher Mucheni, 29, Demsey Lorquet-Maura, 30, and Lauren Wise, 22, “all face numerous human trafficking charges,” police announced on Monday.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams launched an investigation in May, after the friend of a 17-year-old victim from Saskatchewan went to police.
The victim had been lured “under the guise of potential work in Edmonton. By the time she got here and was acquainted with the people who lured her here, she was able to figure out she was lured to be working in the sex trade,” Staff Sgt. Christopher Hayes, from ALERT’s human trafficking unit, said Monday.
Hayes said the girl immediately told contacts in Saskatchewan, who got authorities involved. Edmonton Police Service rescued her and brought in ALERT, whose investigators learned of a second teen from British Columbia who had been coerced into working in the sex trade.
They also interviewed two other young people who were being “groomed” by the accused.
“The suspects rented an expensive condo downtown. They both had two-year-old, high-end, expensive vehicles. Drugs, money, guns. They didn’t have jobs. They were making all the money to pay for their expensive lifestyle off these girls they were working,” Hayes said.
ALERT on Monday only released photos of Mucheni and Lorquet-Maura, noting Wise’ involvement was still being investigated. When asked if she could be a victim, Hayes replied, “That’s what we’re exploring.”
Police seized electronic devices, two loaded handguns, nearly $50,000 in cash and about 90 grams of cocaine during their investigation.
The guns will undergo forensic analysis, ballistics testing and serial number restoration. ALERT will also investigate how the weapons were obtained.
All of the victims are being supported, ALERT said.
“These young females were very brave and I applaud them for that. The steps that they took to help themselves before and after police were involved are very important and I’m glad that they took those steps,” Hayes told CTV News Edmonton.
SIGNS OF GROOMING OR COERCION
Police say the following behaviour could be signs of a person being groomed or coerced into the sex trade:
- wearing new clothing or accessories without the means to pay for it;
- distancing themselves from family and friends;
- leaving home to travel to other cities;
- being secretive about their whereabouts; and
- having new friends about whom little is known.
People who believe they are being sexually exploited can report it to the Edmonton Police Service at 780-423-4567 or 911 if they are in immediate danger.
Victim supports are available at the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation, whose safety network coordinator can be reached at 780-471-6137.