December 2016
Toronto police say a man charged earlier this year after forcing multiple women into the sex trade, threatening their families, making them take illegal drugs and branding them with tattoos of his full name, faces more charges after another alleged victim reported he was recruiting women from inside a correctional facility.
In August, police said a 27-year-old man convinced a 21-year-old woman to have sex for money and forced illicit drugs on her so he could control her.
Investigators said the suspect also assaulted the woman and threatened her family in order to keep her under control.
Mathew Maxwell, of no fixed address, was charged Aug. 15 with 20 offences including extortion, forcible confinement, choking and human trafficking.
On Monday, police announced they were laying 18 additional charges against Maxwell after determining he “was procuring females from inside a correctional facility” from Aug. 7 to Nov. 30.
Police declined to provide more information on what facility the incident took place in or how many alleged victims were involved, but said a second woman came forward with allegations.
Maxwell was charged with the following offences after the second complainant came forward:
Maxwell appeared in a Toronto court on Nov. 3.
Investigators said they’re concerned there may be other victims, and are asking anyone with information about Maxwell or anyone who knows someone with the name “Mathew Maxwell” tattooed on their body to contact police at 416-808-7474 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
With files from The Canadian Press
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