Man charged in York Region human trafficking investigation
Montreal resident allegedly posed as fitness coach to lure women from B.C. for exploitation. Police believe there are more victims.
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A Montreal man has been charged in connection with a human trafficking investigation spanning Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec.
Phillippe Mokoko, 38, was identified through a York Regional Police investigation launched in May targeting sexual service advertising across York Region. Officers located a victim at a hotel near Highway 7 and Leslie Street in Markham who reported being lured from British Columbia under false pretenses and trafficked in the sex trade.
The suspect allegedly posed online as a motivational speaker and fitness instructor using usernames "Coach Dreamz" and "Dreamz.bigg," and frequented gyms across Canada. Mokoko faces two counts of trafficking in persons, three counts of advertising sexual services, three counts of material benefit from sexual services, two counts of material benefit from trafficking in persons, withholding or destroying documents, two counts of procuring or exercising control, and breach of probation.
Additional victims were identified in the same York police investigation, and officers linked Mokoko to an ongoing human trafficking probe in Montreal. Police say more charges are anticipated and believe there are additional alleged victims elsewhere in Canada. Investigators are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.
