Halifax man accused of forcing teen into life of prostitution in Toronto
Posted September 23, 2016 11:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A Halifax man is facing numerous charges after he allegedly forced a minor to work in the Toronto sex trade.
Police say Shondell Lucas-Johnson, 24, met the 17-year-old girl in Halifax and convinced her to come to Toronto.
Once they arrived, police allege he destroyed her identification and provided her with fake documents which presented her as an adult.
Police say he then forced her to work as a prostitute at a spa and made her turn over all her earnings to him.
He’s also accused of destroying her phone so she couldn’t contact family and friends, and assaulting her to assure her continued compliance.
The girl managed to escape and call police.
Police say Lucas-Johnson fled to Halifax where he was arrested Wednesday on a Canada-wide warrant.
He’s facing the following charges:
- Trafficking of a Person under the age of 18 years – Exercise Control
- Trafficking in Persons under 18 years by Recruiting
- Financial/ Material Benefit Trafficking Person under 18
- Withhold/ Destroy Documents
- Material benefit from sexual services provided by a person under 18
- Procuring/ Recruit person under 18 years
- Procuring Exercising Control over a person under 18 C.C.
- Forcible Confinement
Police believe there could be other victims and are urging anyone without information to contact them.
