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TORONTO -- A Mississauga man awaiting trial for armed robbery is accused of forcing two young women to become strippers and prostitutes in York Region's second human trafficking case.
The case began unravelling in September when York vice cops were called about a 19-year-old woman who was allegedly forced to strip at a Mississauga club after arriving from Alberta.
Marlo Williams, 24, was charged with human trafficking and several other offences involving allegations the victim was forced to stay at a Mississauga condo and was beaten and choked when she tried to escape.
Investigators say the woman finally escaped and spent a night on the streets. She was in a vulnerable state when, the next day, she went to a youth centre and was picked up outside by a man, police said.
'PROTECT YOU'
She was told, "Don't worry, I'm going to protect you ... We're going to make you money to get you home,'" Det. Thai Truong said yesterday, a day after the man was charged with human trafficking. "All she wanted was to get home (to Alberta)."
Instead, police allege the man forced her, along with a 22-year-old woman, to strip and work as a prostitute in Toronto and Peel.
Randy Estick, 29, who was already in custody on armed robbery charges stemming from a Toronto incident in September, was charged Wednesday with several offences.
"The York vice squad is victim-focused now," Truong said. "We're aggressively investigating pimps and the people responsible for forcing these girls into these situations."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7640.
TAMARA.CHERRY@SUNMEDIA.CA