UPDATE: July 09 @ noon.
An investigation that began earlier this year found that two teens were befriended by an older woman who said they would hang out with some of her friends.
The RCMP were initially tipped off when they were notified of a young girl that was seen with older men. 65 charges were laid as seven people were arrested and they face charges including child exploitation and human trafficking.
The older female would bring the teens back to homes where they would be offered drugs and money in exchange for sexual acts. This happened between June 2023 and May 2024. The RCMP said the teens would not be able to escape the residences as they were locked in by the woman, who stayed throughout each interaction.
The exploitation included the adult males sending nude photos to the two youths and requiring photos of the two youths. As well, telecommunications between several of the males and the adult female took place via Snapchat or Facebook Messenger to groom or procure services from the youths.
People also believe there may be more teens that were exploited.
When officers executed the search warrants for devices, they also seized a large quantity of methamphetamine and cocaine, and 14 firearms, namely rifles and shot guns.
The following individuals are charged:
Chasity Nicole Assiniboine, 43, from Long Plain First Nation –
- Trafficking of a Person under 18 x2;
- Child Luring x4;
- Uttering Threats x2;
- Benefit from Sexual Services provided by Person under 18;
- Advertising Sexual Services; and
- Procuring Person under 18.
Sean Michael Boak, 40, from Portage –
- Sexual Interference;
- Child Luring x2;
- Sexual Assault;
- Possession of Child Pornography;
- Print/Publish/Make Child Pornography;
- Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18;
- Make Sexually Explicit Material available to Child;
- Trafficking Cocaine; and
- Fail to Comply with Undertaking x4.
David Guy Howard Taylor, 40, from Portage –
- Sexual Assault x2;
- Sexual Interference x2;
- Child Luring x2;
- Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18;
- Trafficking Cocaine;
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine;
- Possess Weapon for Dangerous Purpose x2;
- Unauthorized Possession of Firearm;
- Unsafe Storage of Firearm; and
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000.
Scott Joseph Taylor, 34, from Portage –
- Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18; and
- Unsafe Storage of Firearms.
Wesley Clayton Roulette, 44, from Portage –
- Sexual Assault x2;
- Sexual Interference x2;
- Child Luring x2; and
- Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18.
Alexander Paul Lidster, 39, from Portage –
- Sexual Assault;
- Sexual Interference;
- Child Luring x2;
- Possession of Child Pornography;
- Print/Publish/Make Child Pornography;
- Make Sexually Explicit Material available to Child;
- Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18;
- Benefit from Sexual Services; and
- Trafficking Cocaine.
Frank Peter Justin Tecza, 39, from Portage –
- Sexual Assault;
- Sexual Interference;
- Child Luring x2;
- Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18;
- Trafficking Cocaine;
- Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking Cocaine; and
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000.
The accused are all known to each other.
“Investigators believe there are more victims and survivors,” said Inspector Shawn Pike, Investigative Services Officer for RCMP Major Crime Services. “Information has led officers to know that a currently unidentified 13- or 14-year-old female was also exploited by this group. We ask anybody who knows anything about this operation or is a survivor of it, to please call the Internet Child Exploitation Unit at 204-984-3129.”
“If you think this is not happening in your community, you are wrong,” added Constable Kirandeep Hira with the ICE unit. “This is human trafficking, and it is happening all over Manitoba. We all need to do our part to protect those victimized by traffickers. If you see something, say something. Those engaged in the production or exchange of child pornography are also throughout our province, and we are dedicated to enforcing against anyone who exploits children.”
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The RCMP will hold a press conference on Tuesday morning after seven people were arrested and 65 charges were laid.
The RCMP's Internet Child Exploitation Unit executed several warrants and laid the charges in an investigation into child exploitation and human trafficking.
The conference will be at 11:15 on Tuesday morning and we will provide additional information following the meeting.
