A Halifax man faces prostitution and human trafficking charges after an investigation by the Special Enforcement Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division.
On October 23, 2016, investigators commenced an investigation regarding a man who directed and influenced a 22-year-old woman for the purpose of prostitution. Two men and a woman were arrested without incident last night at an apartment in the 0-100 block of Main Avenue in Halifax and all were held in custody overnight. A 56-year-old woman from Halifax was released today without charges. The investigation into this matter is ongoing.
Twenty-four-year-old Leslie Burton Gray and 21-year-old Andre Jerome Gray will appear in Halifax Provincial Court today to face the following charges;
- Human trafficking
- Receiving material benefit from trafficking
- Material benefit
- Advertising
Andre was also charged with one count of failure to attend court.
Human trafficking is an offence that involves controlling, forcing, intimidating or deceiving a person in order to exploit them through various forms of sexual exploitation or forced labour. This crime can happen in communities of all sizes and unfortunately Halifax is not immune. If you have any information pertaining to this case or other potential human trafficking matters, please call 902-490-5020 or anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or texting a tip – Tip 202 + your message to 274637.
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Source: Media Release