Four Ottawa residents charged following 10-month human trafficking investigation

A joint-police operation into human trafficking has led to the arrest of four people from Ottawa.

In October 2022, police were made aware of a female youth being human trafficked across Ontario and Quebec and an investigation was launched.

Under the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy (IJFS), the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Ottawa Police Service (OPS), Kingston Police Service and the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service worked together on the investigation, along with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC).

According to police, a victim who is now in a place of safety, indicated they had been sexually exploited since 2019.

A total of 23 charges have been laid against three women and one man.

Devin Ronald Jessy Huff, 26, of Ottawa, faces the following charges:

• Possession of a prohibited weapon
• Sexual assault
• assault
• Procuring (two counts)
• Traffic in persons
• Material benefit resulting from trafficking in persons
• Material benefit from sexual services
• Advertising sexual services
• Possession of a prohibited device or ammunition
• Possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking

Huff remains in custody following a bail hearing.

Hayl Collis, 22, of Vanier, faces the following charges:

• Traffic in persons
• Material benefit resulting from trafficking in persons
• Material benefit from sexual services
• Procuring
• Advertising sexual services

Collis remains in custody following a bail hearing.

Alexia Zoe Simard, 26, of Ottawa, faces the following charges:

• Traffic in persons
• Procuring
• Advertising sexual services

Haileigh Brooke Devlin, 23, of Ottawa, faces the following charges:

• Traffic in persons
• Material benefit resulting from trafficking in persons
• Material benefit from sexual services
• Procuring

Simard and Devlin have been released from custody and are both due in court in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023.

Police suspect there may be other victims and are urging anyone with additional information to contact the OPP non-emergency number at 1-888-310-1122 or their local police service.

If you or someone you know may be a victim of these crimes, call 9-1-1 immediately.

The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-833-900-1010. Human trafficking resources are available at canadiancentretoendhumantrafficking.ca.