Human trafficking investigation leads to charges against Brampton man

A 31-year-old Brampton man has been charged after police say a child was trafficked for sexual services in Vaughan.

Investigators with the York Regional Police Counter Exploitation Unit (CEU) arrested Mark Brown on July 8 following an ongoing human trafficking investigation.

Police said officers were conducting a proactive investigation in July at a hotel near Applewood Crescent and Portage Parkway in Vaughan when they identified a victim believed to be a child in need of protection.

Through the investigation, police believe the victim, who was under the age of 18, was being trafficked for sexual services.

Investigators say a man photographed the victim and used the images in online advertisements promoting sexual services. Police further allege he controlled the advertisements, arranged appointments with clients, received proceeds from the exploitation and transported the victim to locations in multiple jurisdictions.

Brown has been charged with:

• Trafficking in persons under 18
• Material benefit from trafficking a person under 18
• Material benefit from sexual services provided by a person under 18
• Obtaining sexual services for consideration from a person under 18
• Two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking
• Advertising another person’s sexual services
• Householder permitting prohibited sexual activity

York Regional Police investigators believe there may be additional victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Counter Exploitation Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 6800, or email [email protected].

Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers.

Police remind the public that human trafficking involves the exploitation, manipulation, coercion or control of a person through violence, threats of violence or other means to provide sexual services or forced labour.