One man is facing human trafficking related charges after an investigation involving the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT), the Lethbridge Police Service, Calgary Police, RCMP and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).
Justin Palmer, 35, was arrested in Calgary on June 26 and is facing charges of human trafficking, material benefit from trafficking, withholding documents, advertising sexual services and assault causing bodily harm.
He was released from custody with conditions including no contact with the victim and no access to the internet.
ALERT alleges he sexually exploited and trafficked a 19-year-old victim, dating back to August 2021.
“The alleged trafficking offences took place in both Alberta and Ontario and included grooming the victim, directing her movements and advertising her sexual services,” reads a news release from ALERT. “In addition, the victim was assaulted multiple times, including an instance in which she was trying to leave the sex trade.”
The investigation goes back to July 2022 and found the victim was recruited through social media and ALERT says it believes Palmer was “aggressively attempting to recruit other women.”
“Our primary concern is ensuring no other women were victimized, and providing supports to those that may have been. This suspect was very violent in order to facilitate his own financial gain,” said Staff Sgt. Colleen Bowers, ALERT.