Photo: Leighton Keen Junior Whitfield, age 22, also known as 2C
The Toronto Police Service is making the public aware of an arrest made in a Human Trafficking investigation.
Police say the female victim met the accused after moving to Ontario. Throughout a combination of deception, coercion and physical violence, the female victim was sex trafficked in Toronto for approximately five months. The money earned throughout the trafficking period was turned over to the accused
On Sunday, November 10, 2024, members of the Human Trafficking Unit made an arrest in relation to this investigation in the area of Victoria Park Avenue and Danforth Avenue.
Leighton Keen Junior Whitfield, aka “2C”, 22, of Toronto was charged with:
- Material Benefit from Sexual Services
- Procuring/Exercising Control
- Advertising Another Person’s Sexual Services
- Trafficking in Person by Recruiting
- Financial/Material Benefit/Trafficking Person over 18
- four counts of Assault
- two counts of Assault by Choking
- Assault with a Weapon
- Uttering Threats Cause Bodily Harm
He was scheduled to appear in court at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre, 2201 Finch Avenue West, Monday, November 11, 2024, at 10 a.m., in room 106.
Police are concerned there may be more victims. An image of the accused has been released.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-4838 or humantrafficking@torontopolice.on.ca, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.
Human Trafficking means every person who recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals or harbours a person, or exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation, for a sexual purpose or a forced labour purpose. Victims can be men, women or children; can be Canadian citizens; and can be moved across local, provincial or national borders. They can be coerced through violence or the threat of violence against family and friends. The Human Trafficking Unit of Sex Crimes is dedicated to investigating these crimes against vulnerable members of society. For more information, please visit the Sex Crimes website.
Police would like to encourage all affected individuals to come forward and report human trafficking occurrences to the police. We want to ensure everyone has access to support services and an exit strategy, regardless of their decision to proceed criminally.
