Ottawa man facing human trafficking charges stemming from incidents dating back to 2015

The Ottawa Police Service Human Trafficking Unit is charging a 25-year-old Ottawa man following a thorough investigation into incidents that it says happened between 2019 and 2020. 

The unit started its investigation in October of 2020, after officers say a survivor came forward with information about her situation. The information was then corroborated through a number of investigative means. 

Danny Naaman was charged later that month, with: 

• CC 279.01 (1) Trafficking in persons by recruiting, etc
• CC 279.01 (1) Trafficking in persons by exercising control, etc
• CC 279.02 (1) Financial/material benefit/trafficking person over 18
• CC 286.3 (1) Procuring/exercising control
• CC 286.2 (1) Material benefit from sexual services
• CC 286.4 Advertising another person’s sexual services
• CC 267 (a) Assault with weapon or imitation weapon
• CC 267 (b) Assault/cause bodily harm
• CC 264 (2) (d) Harassment by threatening conduct to other person
• CC 354 (1) Possess proceeds of property or thing obtained by crime/exceeding $5,000
• CC 88 (1) Possess weapon, etc./for committing an offence
• CC 266 Assault 

Through its investigation, a second survivor was identified and spoken with. Police then laid the following charges against Naaman, on January 25, for incidents between 2015 and 2017:

• CC 279.01 (1) Trafficking in persons by exercising control, etc
• CC 279.02 (1) Financial/material benefit/trafficking person over 18
• CC 286.3 (1) Procuring/exercising control
• CC 286.2 (1) Material benefit from sexual services
• CC 286.4 Advertising another person’s sexual services
• CC 267 (a) Assault with weapon
• CC 268 (2) Aggravated assault
• CC 264 (2) (d) Harassment by threatening conduct to other person
• CC 354 (1) Possess proceeds of property or thing obtained by crime/exceeding $5,000
• CC 264.1 (1) (a) Uttering threats/death or bodily harm 

The accused is scheduled to appear in court February 12. 

The Human Trafficking Unit says the accused travelled to Kingston, Brockville, Cornwall, Belleville and the Toronto area between 2015 and 2020. Ottawa police officers are urging anyone with further information to come forward, as investigators believe that other victims/survivors are still out there. 

“The predatory and historic nature of this ongoing investigation suggest that more crimes may have committed since 2015,” says Sgt. Damien Laflamme. “We recognize that it can be difficult for survivors to come forward. We urge victims to consider that our human trafficking team has significant resources to support and enable anyone to break their silence. We understand the reluctance of survivors wanting to come forward with information however you’re not alone. We will do whatever we can to support you.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Ottawa Police Human Trafficking Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 5005 or 1-800-292-1168. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or crimestoppers.ca.