A Mi’kmaw man in Nova Scotia is facing several charges for human trafficking that took place in the Edmonton area in the fall of 2019.
William Meuse, 31, was arrested at his home in Bear River in Nova Scotia, 225 kilometres northwest of Halifax, on April 6, 2021 and transported by Alberta Sheriffs to Edmonton to appear in court.
According to the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT), an investigation began last June after a woman contacted the Nova Scotia RCMP.
The woman, who is from Nova Scotia, alleges Meuse forced her to work in the sex trade in the Edmonton area in the fall of 2019.
Alberta and Nova Scotia human trafficking police units collaborated in the investigation that was launched last June.
Meuse is charged with human trafficking, receiving material benefit from trafficking, procuring someone to provide sexual services, advertising sexual services, and distributing intimate images.
“It seemingly started off as a normal relationship, it wasn’t something that suddenly a switch is flipped and you find yourself working in the sex trade but a series of events that were very calculated grooming in this case that led to that,” according to Alberta’s human trafficking spokesperson Mike Ticker.
Meuse is to appear in Edmonton court May 5, 2021.
If you suspect you were a victim of human trafficking, or you know someone who has been trafficked, or has information, please call the International Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010 or your local police.
