Two men facing combined 30 charges in human trafficking investigation

Dondre Jamari Hibbert, 20, is facing 15 charges in connection with a human trafficking investigation in Mississauga and Toronto. (Toronto police handout)

Two men are facing a combined 30 charges after they allegedly forced a 17-year-old victim and her friend into the sex trade.

Toronto police say the victim was initially recruited by a man in 2015 who used the name ‘Jinx’ on Instagram.

Police believe the girl agreed to meet up with the man on Oct. 5 where he convinced her that she could make money working for him in the sex trade.

At that point, police say the man took the girl to the Monte Carlo Inn in Mississauga where he took photos of her in certain stages of undress and posted them on backpages.com.

Investigators allege that the man controlled any communication the victim made with clients through texts and told her what to charge for sexual services. He also demanded she hand over all her earnings to him, police said.

A second 18-year-old victim was later forced into the sex trade by the same man after the first victim introduced them.

Police say the girl and the woman were then taken to the Studio Six Motel in Mississauga where they were introduced to a second man and photographed again in certain stages of undress.

A short time later, police say the two victims were taken back to the Knights Inn, located in Toronto, where they the first suspect “turned over the control” of the females to the second suspect.

Police allege the second suspect continued to force the victims to advertise for sexual services online and demanded all earnings be handed to him.

On Oct. 15, police say they received a tip about two females in a room at the Knights Inn Motel with “numerous men coming in and out of the room.”

Investigators attended the scene and placed a suspect under arrest.

A suspect identified as 20-year-old Stephen McGann, of Toronto, has been charged with 15 offences including human trafficking by recruiting of a person under 18 years old, financial or material benefit of human trafficking of a person under 18 years old, unlawfully possessing child pornography and material benefit from sexual services.

McGann made an appearance in court on Oct. 17.

A second suspect identified as 20-year-old Dondre Jamari Hibbert, of Pickering, has also been charged with 15 offences, including human trafficking by recruiting of a person under 18 years old, financial or material benefit from human trafficking of a person under 18 years old, unlawfully possessing child pornography and procuring a person under 18 years old.

Police say an arrest warrant was issued for Hibbert on Oct. 18. He eventually surrendered to police on Jan. 24.

Hibbert made an appearance in court on Jan. 24.

Anyone with information about this investigation is being asked to call police at 416-808-7474 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).