A 59-year-old St. Thomas man has been charged with human trafficking offences after an investigation lasting several months. A female contacted St. Thomas Police to report she was a trafficking victim for several months as a minor in 2013.
The investigation involved the Street Crimes Unit, the Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Internet Child Exploitation Unit. As a result of their work, Eugene Andre Francois was arrested May 27 after a search warrant was issued for his Talbot Street apartment. He was charged with the following offences:
-Sexual Assault
-Sexual Exploitation
-Traffic in Persons Under the age of 18 Years
-Material Benefits Resulting From Trafficking in Persons
-Possession of Child Pornography
Investigators suspect there may be other victims. Eugene Francois is known to have provided music lessons in the city and had regular contact with minors. If you or someone you know is the victim of human trafficking, contact the St. Thomas Police Service at 519-631-1224 or submit an anonymous tip online to http://www.stthomascrimestoppers.ca refer to case #ST21002500
