Arrest made in Human Trafficking Investigation,
Andrew "Hot Boy Ryda" Pothiers-Grant, 21

Broadcast time: 19:25
Date: Thursday, June 23, 2022
Unit: Sex Crimes
Phone: 416-808-7474
Case #: 2022-694943


On Thursday, April 14, 2022, the Human Trafficking Enforcement Team and the C.A.R.E. (Children At Risk of Exploitation) team commenced an investigation into human trafficking.

It is alleged that:

•  a teenaged girl from Ontario was groomed over social media and then flown to British Columbia
•  throughout a combination of deception, coercion, and physical violence, the teenage girl was sex trafficked in British Columbia, and then in Ontario, periodically between August 2021 and April 2022
•  All of the money earned throughout the trafficking period was turned over to the accused

On Thursday, June 23, 2022,  Police arrested a man relation to this investigation in the area.

It is alleged that:

•  a loaded firearm, a quantity of drugs and cash were seized during the arrest

Andrew "Hot Boy Ryda" Pothiers-Grant, 21, of Toronto was charged with:

1.  Trafficking in persons under 18 by recruiting
2.  Recruit person under 18 to provide sexual services for consideration
3.  Assault by choking
4.  Assault
5.  two counts of Trafficking in persons under 18 by exercising control
6.  two counts of Procuring/exercising control over persons under 18
7.  two counts of Financial/material benefit/trafficking persons under 18
8.  Material benefit from sexual services provided by persons under 18 years
9.  Advertising another person's sexual services
10.  two counts of Making child pornography
11.  two counts of Transmit child pornography
12.  two counts of Unlawfully possess child pornography
13.  Advertising another person's sexual services
14.  Harassment by combination of prohibited conduct
15.  Possess loaded firearm
16.  Store firearm carelessly
17.  Possess prohibited firearm knowing it is restricted
18.  Unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm
19.  Possession of prohibited firearm knowingly not holding a license
20.  Unauthorized possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
21.  Weapons dangerous
22.  Carry concealed weapon
23.  Possession prohibited device knowing it is prohibited
24.  Possession of Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (fentanyl)
25.  Possession of Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine)
26.  Possession of Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (oxycodone)
27.  Possession of proceeds obtained by crime not exceeding $5000

He appeared in court at Old City Hall on Thursday, June 23, 2022, in room 114.

Investigators are concerned there may be more victims.  An image of the accused has been released.

Police would like to encourage all affected individuals to come forward and report human trafficking occurrences to police.  We want to make sure that everyone has access to support services and an exit strategy, regardless of their decision to proceed criminally.

Human Trafficking means every person who recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals or harbours a person, or exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation, for a sexual purpose or a forced labour purpose.

Victims can be men, women or children; can be Canadian citizens; and can be moved across local, provincial or national borders.

They can be coerced through violence or the threat of violence against family and friends.

The Human Trafficking Enforcement Team of Sex Crimes is dedicated to investigating these crimes against vulnerable members of society.

For more information, please visit the Sex Crimes website.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Check out our podcast, 24 Shades of Blue with Obie & Ax.

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By Constable Laura Brabant for Inspector Justin VanderHeyden , Detective Paul Martin