The Manitoba judge handed down a 14‑month sentence Thursday to a Quebec man convicted of human trafficking after repeatedly using prison phone calls to compel a woman to continue sex work.
The court found that the inmate called the woman multiple times each week, delivering instructions and threats that pressured her to accept clients and continue her work. Prosecutors presented call logs that showed a pattern of persistent contact designed to maintain control over the victim’s activities, even as the caller remained behind bars.
The Manitoba judge imposed a 14‑month prison term, noting that the use of prison phone privileges to facilitate trafficking constitutes a serious breach of the correctional system’s security and a direct exploitation of a vulnerable individual.
The case illustrates that human‑trafficking networks can operate from inside correctional facilities, using legally permitted communication tools to extend their reach. While phone use is routinely monitored, this conviction shows that monitoring alone may not prevent determined offenders from coordinating illegal activity.
Authorities in Manitoba and across Canada have highlighted the need for stricter oversight of inmate communications to disrupt similar schemes. This conviction adds to a growing body of case law that treats trafficking conducted through prison channels with the same severity as street‑level offenses.
The woman involved described feeling trapped by the inmate’s persistent calls, which left her with limited options to disengage from prostitution. Her testimony contributed to the court’s determination that the defendant’s actions met the legal definition of human trafficking.
The sentencing may prompt prison administrations to review phone access policies, potentially introducing stricter verification procedures and increased surveillance of inmate calls.