Durham Police said two male suspects have been arrested in a human trafficking investigation.
On Tuesday, February 9, Human Trafficking investigators received information from a parent who came forward stating that a family friend (known to the victim as Uncle Dev), a 54-year old male, had been trafficking their 17-year old son to a 56-year old male since 2017. The victim was 14-years-old when the family friend began driving him to Toronto and coerced him into performing sexual acts in exchange for food, clothing, money and drugs. Investigators commenced an investigation that revealed a second 17-year-old male victim.
On Thursday, June 3, both suspects were arrested by the DRPS Human Trafficking Unit with the assistance of the Offender Management Unit and Robbery Unit. Investigators executed a warrant on the suspects’ residences and seized multiple phones, computers, and data storage devices, said a police statement.
Devon Finlay, age 54, of Goldeye Street in Whitby, is charged with: Invitation to Sexual Touching Under 16 Years of Age; Sexual Exploitation of a Young Person; Sexual Interference With Person Under 16 Years; Sexual Assault on Person Under 16 Years; Trafficking In Persons Under 18 Years by Recruiting; Procuring Person Under 18 Years; and Procuring/Recruit Person Under 18 Years to Provide Sexual Services.
James Craig Moffat, age 56, of Romana Drive in Scarborough, is charged with: Invitation to Sexual Touching Under 16 Years of Age; Sexual Interference With Person Under 16 Years; Permit Person Under 18 Years on Premises for Prohibited Sexual Activity and Sexual Assault.
They were both held for a bail hearing.
Anyone with new information about this investigation is asked to contact D/Cst.Gendron of the Human Trafficking Unit at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 5698.