The investigation, named Project Shrewsbury, began in August 2024, when members from Greater Sudbury Police and Kingston Police received information of a male recruiting and transporting two young females from their jurisdictions for the purpose of sex trafficking.
Due to the human trafficking element, the investigation was coordinated through the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) led Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS). Peel Regional Police became involved when it was identified that the offences against the females took place in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
On November 20, 2024, members of the OPP arrested 37-year-old Sheldon Lester SAUNDERS, of Scarborough, and have charged him with the following Criminal Code offences:
- Assault Causing Bodily Harm, as per section 267(c)
- Advertising Sexual Services, as per section 286.4
- Procuring under 18 years, as per section 286.3(2)
- Material Benefit Resulting from Trafficking in Persons, as per section 279.02(2)
- Material Benefit from Sexual Services Received from Person under 18 years, as per section 286.2(2)
- Traffic in Persons under 18 years of age, as per section 279.011
- Disobey Court Order, as per section 127
- Makes, Prints or Publishes any Child Pornography, as per section 163.1(2)
- Possession of Child Pornography, as per section 163.1(4)
- Imports, Distributes or Sells any Child Pornography, as per section 163.1(3)
- Assault, as per section 266
The accused remains in custody and is scheduled to appear on December 16, 2024 at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.
The victims were taken to places of safety and provided support services. Police believe there may be additional victims and ask that anyone who has information come forward to their local police.
A video related to the case is located here: https://youtu.be/Xr68ijQGQMg
Additional support was provided by the OPP Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement Squad and IJFS members from Toronto Police Service, York Regional Police and Victim Services of Kingston and Frontenac.
The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking has resources available for victims and survivors of human trafficking on their website at canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca. A national hotline is also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-833-900-1010.
ABOUT THE IJFS: On March 6, 2020, the Government of Ontario announced funding to establish the IJFS, consisting of full-time investigators and analysts who are assigned to participating police agencies across Ontario, including municipal and First Nations, along with additional resources to the OPP. The IJFS assists in identifying, investigating and disrupting multi-jurisdictional human trafficking organizations operating within Ontario.
The 20 participating police agencies include:
Anishinabek Police Services
Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service
Barrie Police Service
Durham Regional Police Service
Greater Sudbury Police Service
Halton Regional Police Service
Hamilton Police Service
Kingston Police
London Police Service
Niagara Regional Police Service
Ontario Provincial Police
Ottawa Police Service
Peel Regional Police
Peterborough Police Service
Six Nations Police Service
Thunder Bay Police Service
Toronto Police Service
Treaty Three Police Service
Windsor Police Service
York Regional Police
