Vancouver police have broken up a prostitution ring operating from a south Vancouver home in which four girls aged 14 to 17 were allegedly intimidated into providing sexual services.
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Vancouver police have broken up a prostitution ring operating from a south Vancouver home in which four girls aged 14 to 17 were allegedly intimidated into providing sexual services.
A total of 18 charges have been laid against Reza Moazami, 27, including four counts of human trafficking. This is only the second time such a charge has been laid in Vancouver and the first involving juveniles. Sgt. Richard Akin of the VPD's vice squad said police believe other teenagers may have been involved in prostitution activities associated with Moazami, and asked them to contact police.
"Let's be clear these [teenagers] are victims. We believe there are others, and we want these victims to talk to us," said Akin. Police began investigating Moazami in August when he was identified as being allegedly involved in prostitution activities.
"It quickly developed into an investigation into juvenile prostitution and suspected interprovincial human trafficking," he said.
Moazami was arrested Oct. 7 and charged with two counts of living on the avails of juvenile prostitution and one count of keeping a common bawdy house. Two female juvenile victims were found in the residence at the time of Moazami's arrest and were taken into care.
The investigation continued and on Tuesday more charges were laid, amounting to a total of 18 offences alleged to have occurred between February 2009 and October 2011, involving four female victims under 18.
Those charges include four counts of living on the avails of a juvenile, four counts of living on the avails of a juvenile while using or threatening to use violence intimidation or coercion, four counts of trafficking in persons under the age of 18, two counts of sexual interference and four counts of sexual exploitation. Moazami remains in custody. His next court appearance is Nov. 21 at Vancouver Provincial Court.
gbellett@vancouversun.com
A total of 18 charges have been laid against Reza Moazami, 27, including four counts of human trafficking. This is only the second time such a charge has been laid in Vancouver and the first involving juveniles. Sgt. Richard Akin of the VPD's vice squad said police believe other teenagers may have been involved in prostitution activities associated with Moazami, and asked them to contact police.
"Let's be clear these [teenagers] are victims. We believe there are others, and we want these victims to talk to us," said Akin. Police began investigating Moazami in August when he was identified as being allegedly involved in prostitution activities.
"It quickly developed into an investigation into juvenile prostitution and suspected interprovincial human trafficking," he said.
Moazami was arrested Oct. 7 and charged with two counts of living on the avails of juvenile prostitution and one count of keeping a common bawdy house. Two female juvenile victims were found in the residence at the time of Moazami's arrest and were taken into care.
The investigation continued and on Tuesday more charges were laid, amounting to a total of 18 offences alleged to have occurred between February 2009 and October 2011, involving four female victims under 18.
Those charges include four counts of living on the avails of a juvenile, four counts of living on the avails of a juvenile while using or threatening to use violence intimidation or coercion, four counts of trafficking in persons under the age of 18, two counts of sexual interference and four counts of sexual exploitation. Moazami remains in custody. His next court appearance is Nov. 21 at Vancouver Provincial Court.
gbellett@vancouversun.com
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