Probe into prostitution ring leads to 8 arrests, 44 charges

Eight people have been taken into custody and arrest warrants have been issued for four others following a year-long probe into a prostitution ring run by a Toronto street gang.

Toronto police say male and female members of the Galloway Boys used physical violence, threats and other forms of coercion to force up to 10 girls between the ages of 14 and 17 into the sex trade over the last year with all proceeds going back to the gang.

The arrests, which are part of Project Dove, were made during the execution of 11 search warrants in the Morningside and Lawrence avenues area on Thursday morning.

A quantity of currency and a vehicle were seized during the raids.

“It is alleged that the suspects recruited young girls, exploited them and forced them to work as prostitutes operating out of various hotel and motel locations across the City of Toronto, Durham region, Peel region and into Montreal,” Insp. Joanna Beaven-Desjardins of the sex crimes unit told reporters Friday. “You know these victims sometimes are just looking for attention and affection and these pimps feed off that and then their relationship turns into a controlling and violent relationship where these girls are forced to perform prostitution and turn their earnings over.”  (more...)

Probe into prostitution ring leads to 8 arrests, 44 charges