NEWS RELEASE
TIMMINS POLICE SERVICE
*************************
The Timmins Police Service has charged a Woodbridge person with a number of Criminal Code offences stemming from an intensive investigation involving Human Trafficking.
The Timmins Police Service - Criminal Investigations Section received a report of suspicious activity at a west end hotel in Timmins involving the suspect and a 25-year-old female victim.
In the course of the investigation, the Timmins Police concluded that the woman has been held against her will and extorted into performing sexual acts as part of a Human Trafficking undertaking.
As a result of the investigation, Vincenzo Giovenco, 41, of Woodbridge, Ontario, was arrested on Monday Feb. 22 and has been charged with:
- Trafficking in persons contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
- Material benefit resulting from trafficking in persons contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
- Withholding or destroying documents in relation to trafficking in persons contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
- 3 counts of forcible confinement contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
- 2 counts of sexual assault contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
- Assault contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
- 2 counts of utter threats contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
- Extortion contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
- Fail to comply with undertaking contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
At one point while in police custody, Giovenco caused approximately $1000 damage to the rear compartment of a Timmins Police cruiser.
As a result, an additional count of:
- Mischief to property – under $5000 contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada
has been laid against the accused.
Giovenco was remanded into custody at a bail hearing held yesterday at Provincial Court in Timmins. His next court appearance is slated for Feb. 26 at Provincial court in Timmins to answer to the charges laid against him.
*************************
