Disturbing details revealed in B.C. human trafficking case

Court documents obtained by CTV News detail the shocking violence and exploitation involved in a B.C. sex trafficking operation, with victims as young as 13.

Warning: Some readers will find the content of this story disturbing

More troubling details are emerging about a human trafficking operation in B.C.’s Lower Mainland. They paint a violent and horrific picture of the crimes committed, some of them against a teenage girl.

CTV News has obtained court documents in the case involving Jennifer Lynn Stephens, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to 17 offences, including assault causing bodily harm, sexual assault, unlawful confinement and receiving a benefit from sexual services.

Stephens was among those arrested at a Langley hotel in March 2023.

• Read more: Metro Vancouver woman facing 14 charges in human-trafficking investigation: RCMP

According to the court’s admissions of fact, the hotel had just come under surveillance by RCMP investigating a 13-year-old being trafficked, when a woman ran to a gas station next door asking for help.

She was bloodied and badly injured.

Court documents indicate the woman told police she had been beaten by Stephens and a man for four to five hours before she escaped. The victim told police Stephens had said: “Every time I beat you it gets worse and worse. Next time, I am going to have to kill you.”

According to court records, the injured woman, as well as a 13-year-old girl, worked for Stephens.

The documents indicate that Stephens “oversaw and profited” from the victims’ sex work, and that the teen gave Stephens “60 per cent of her earnings from the provision of sexual services.”

Stephens, in a text message exchange with a friend, described her operation.

“I teach them how to properly talk to them n teach them how to sell online content,” the text messages read.

Stephens also texted: “WE JUSS NEED MORE GIRLS !”

The documents also outline how Stephens manipulated an adult victim to gain from her financially through a fictitious relationship.

After Stephens, who was 27 and 28 at the time of the offences, was initially charged and released, the documents indicate she tried to re-establish her trafficking operation.

She remains in custody awaiting sentencing in October.