Woman facing multiple charges related to alleged human-trafficking scheme, RCMP in Langley, B.C., say
Jennifer Lynn Stephens arrested Dec. 7; charges include several related to under-18s
Police in Langley, B.C., say a woman is facing more than a dozen charges related to an alleged human-trafficking scheme involving sexual exploitation of people under the age of 18.
Langley RCMP say Jennifer Lynn Stephens faces 14 criminal charges for her alleged role in a human-trafficking and pimping operation, including forcible confinement, assault with a weapon, uttering threats, and benefiting and advertising sexual services.
Police say they were called to a gas station in Langley in early March, where they found a "distressed adult female" and an investigation led them to a hotel nearby before Stephens was first charged with assault.
They say she failed to appear in court in July, leading to a Canada-wide warrant for her arrest.
Police say they arrested Stephens on Dec. 7 after a complex investigation involving multiple agencies, including Surrey RCMP, the Vancouver Police Department and the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.
Insp. Erica Moir with Langley RCMP says charges of human trafficking are rarely laid in Canada because of the "often-hidden nature" of the operations.
She said Stephens' case allegedly involved victims "trafficked for sexual exploitation."