Ottawa human trafficking charges

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Touch Therapy Spa

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 19, 2019       2:42pm

(Ottawa) –The Ottawa Police Service Human Trafficking Unit has charged Juteah Preston DOWNEY, with various human trafficking charges stemming from a lengthy investigation.
Survivors in this matter came forward in May 2018 to the Ottawa Police Human Trafficking Unit. Information was acquired and corroborated by investigators and a subsequent investigation was commenced. Further survivors were identified and provided their own accounts of their personal manipulation and victimization.

On Thursday April 18, 2019, the accused was located and arrested by members of the Human Trafficking Unit. Human Trafficking investigators worked collaboratively with the Canada Border Services Agency and Ottawa By-Law Services to close down Touch Therapy Spa/Ottawa MA which was operating in an unlicensed commercial establishment located in the 800 block on Somerset Street West

Juteah Preston DOWNEY also known as “Lord DOWNEY” or “Preston”, 41 years of age of Ottawa has subsequently been charged with the following charges:

Trafficking in persons x3

Financial/Material benefit/trafficking person over 18 x3

Procuring someone to become a prostitute x3

Material benefit from sexual services x3

Advertising another person’s sexual services x4

Sexual assault x1

Assault x1

DOWNEY was held in custody and appeared in court for a show cause hearing today. Further By-Law charges have been issued and a person has been remanded to the custody of the Canada Border Services Agency. The subsequent investigation is pending.

“Our Ottawa Police Human Trafficking trained investigators work tirelessly to ensure that criminals who seek to victimize vulnerable members of our community are held accountable for their actions.  Human trafficking, in a nutshell, is a labor and service provided out of fear. People are being exploited; it’s modern-day slavery. In many cases, women and young girls involved in prostitution are forced into the sex trade through violence, coercion or trickery.” stated Sgt. Damien Laflamme who heads the OPS Human Trafficking Unit.

Based on our current and ongoing investigation, the Ottawa Police Human Trafficking Unit strongly believes that there are several more victims who have yet to come forward.