27-year-old Mississauga man facing 22 human trafficking charges

A man is facing nearly two dozen charges in connection with a human trafficking investigation in Mississauga, police say.

The investigation was launched after police were called to a reported assault at a hotel in the area of Airport Road and Bresler Drive in Mississauga on November 2, according to Peel Regional Police.

Officers said that when they arrived, they found an 18-year-old woman at the hotel suffering from minor injuries.

As a result, Jamar Ferguson, a 27-year-old man from Mississauga, was charged with assault.

• See also:
  • “Dangerous and illegal” stunt driving shuts down GTA highway (VIDEO)
  • 19-year-old fatally stabbed at Halloween party in the Annex identified
  • Man wanted for alleged abduction of 8-year-old girl in Toronto (VIDEO)

However, further investigation revealed that since October 2018, the accused had been exploiting the female victim in the sex trade industry and exercising control over all aspects of her life and profiting as a result.

On Monday, November 4, Ferguson was charged with numerous offences including:

• Trafficking in Persons Under the Age of 18
• Procuring Person Under 18
• Receiving Benefits Resulting from Trafficking Persons
• Exercise Control
• Withholding or Destroying Documents for the Purposes of Trafficking in Persons

Twenty-Two Charges Laid in Human Trafficking Investigation – https://t.co/areUXXKAQX pic.twitter.com/yLnX5T0aVO

— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) November 5, 2019

Investigators say they believe there may be more victims and potential witnesses. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Vice, Narcotics and Street Level Organized Crime Unit at (905) 453-2121, ext. 3555.

Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or online.

Ferguson is set to appear in court for a bail hearing on November 5.