Toronto police have laid additional charges against a Mississauga man accused of human trafficking after additional victims were identified. Police said further investigation determined that the accused allegedly trafficked a 32-year-old woman “through a combination of deception, coercion and control.” The accused allegedly coerced her into taking sexually explicit photos, which were then distributed online. Police said the victim then surrendered over the money she earned to the accused. Investigators allege he did the same thing to another 32-year-old woman. As a result, Elijah Benjamin from Mississauga, who was initially taken into custody on July 22, was re-arrested on July 30. He was charged with procuring, trafficking in persons by recruiting, advertising another person’s sexual services, living on avails of prostitution, material benefit from sexual services, assault with a weapon and two counts of assault. Then, earlier this month, investigators said they learned that the accused tried to recruit a 31-year-old woman he met through an online dating app into the sex trade. Benjamin allegedly sexually assaulted the woman on multiple occasions. On Friday, police said he turned himself in. Benjamin was charged with procuring and two counts of sexual assault. Police believe there may be more victims and said Benjamin met all three victims on an online dating app. He was formerly known as Eric Smart and uses Jay and Jason as aliases, police said.
