Halton police charge Thornhill woman as part of human trafficking investigation

Halton police have charged a 32-year-old woman from Thornhill as part of a human trafficking investigation in the Greater Toronto Area.

Officers say a woman was the victim of being exploited and trafficked in the sex trade for financial gain throughout the area, for over 18 months.

Investigators arrested Lia Mai Genest-Matte of Thornhill on Sept. 25, and executed search warrants at residences in Thornhill and Oakville, and a commercial business in Mississauga.

As a result of the searches, police seized:

• Around $25,000 in loose Canadian currency and $100 in U.S. currency;
• Around 56.1 grams of cocaine;
• 8.7 grams of purple fentanyl;
• Small amounts of Xanax, LSD and MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy);
• A large amount of bundled currency;
• Gold and silver bars and;
• Electronic devices and other items that have evidentiary value.

Genest-Matte has been charged with offences including possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking, advertising sexual services and receiving material benefit for sexual services.

Genest-Matte has been held in custody pending a bail hearing at a Milton courthouse.

Police say Genest-Matte has also used several aliases including: “Badgirl Lili”, “Chanel Smith”, “White Bee”, and “Bianca White” and is known to operate under the agency name of “Don White’s Associates.”

Investigators believe there may be more victims.

Anyone with information, or anyone who has been victimized by Genest-Matte are asked to contact Detective Scott Heyerman of the Human Trafficking Unit at 905-825-4747 ext. 4973.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.

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