Between February 2, 2024, and June 4, 2024, investigators with the Manitoba RCMP’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit executed 10 search warrants in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, arresting seven individuals and laying 65 charges.
The investigation began on February 2, 2024, when Portage RCMP were notified of a young girl seen around the city with older men. Officers were able to locate the female youth as well as an additional female youth, both 15, who were exploited in a human trafficking operation in Portage.
The investigation revealed that an adult female had befriended the girls and offered for them to hang out with some of her friends to get some drugs and money. The girls trusted the adult female and attended residences in the city with her between June 2023 and December 2023. When the youth arrived with the adult female, there would be an adult male present who would offer drugs in exchange for sexual acts. On many occasions, the youth was locked in the location by the adult female, who remained through the entire interaction, and they could not escape.
The youth would perform the sexual acts and receive the drugs, and sometimes currency, from the adult male. The adult female would also receive payment in the form of drugs, including methamphetamine and cocaine.
The exploitation included the adult males sending nude photos to the two youth and requiring photos of the two youth. 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.
When officers executed the search warrants for devices, they also seized a large quantity of methamphetamine and cocaine, and 13 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
- 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
- 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
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
Scott Joseph Taylor, 34, from Portage –
- Obtaining Sexual Services for Consideration for Person under 18
- Unsafe Storage of Firearms
Wesley Clayton Roulette, 44, from Portage –
- Sexual Assault x2
- Sexual Interference x2
- Child Luring x2
- 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
- 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
- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000
The accused are all known to each other.
“Investigators do 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.”
This investigation continues.
For anyone in need of resources, Klinic Community Health has a 24/7 Sexual Assault Crisis Line at 204-786-8631 or toll free at 1-888-292-7565. Klinic can also help with anyone wishing to make a third-party report of sexual assault, which means that survivors can report the sexual assault to a recognized third party, such as Klinic, and that crime is then reported by Klinic to the police without the survivor’s identifying information. Reporting can also take place through Cybertip.ca.
