A 10-month human-trafficking investigation involving a victim trafficked for more than a decade has led to multiple arrests, dozens of charges and connections to B.C. and Alberta.
Halton Regional Police Service in Ontario announced Tuesday (July 28) that nine people were arrested and are facing 85 charges in Project Troubadour. Supt. Dave Constantini said there is evidence to believe the victims were being trafficked beyond Ontario and across the country, specifically B.C. and Alberta.
He said that in September 2025 a “strong and brave” woman came forward to police to report that she was a survivor of exploitation. Constantini said that resulted in Project Troubadour and the alleged incidents that had been taking place across the Greater Toronto Area.
“Thanks to her incredible courage, what ensued was a large-scale, 10-month, multi-jurisdiction investigation that uncovered an additional 11 victims, who were subjected to commercial sexual exploitation over an extended period of time.”
Police said the initial victim was allegedly trafficked for 15 years by one of the charged, Omar Brooks.
But Constantini said police believe the 12 victims are “just the tip of the iceberg.” The victims range in age from 18 to 34 years old.
On July 13, officers from multiple departments executed simultaneous search warrants across the Greater Toronto Area at 10 residences: five in Halton, four Peel and one in Toronto.
During the searches, police seized three high-end vehicles, a Lamborghini and two Mercedes-Benzes; approximately $450,000 worth of high-end jewelry; approximately $30,000 in Canadian and U.S. currency; a “quantity” of drugs, including cocaine, oxycodone, psilocybin and cannabis; and a “plethora” of electronic devices.
Nine people were arrested: 40-year-old Omar Brooks, 31-year-old Christian Collins, 33-year-old Michelle Dimarco, 32-year-old Nicholas Bennett, 74-year-old Merlyn Brooks, 45-year-old Malinda Brooks, 45-year-old Malisha Brooks, 40-year-old Jonathan Green and 26-year-old Jaidis Brooks-Reynolds.
Omar Brooks, of Burlington, goes by the alias Syph. He is charged with instruct to commit for benefit of criminal organization, three counts of trafficking in persons, three counts of receive material benefit from trafficking in persons, nine counts of procuring excise control, procuring illicit sexual intercourse, procure to become a prostitute, living off the avails of prostitution, seven counts of receive material benefit from sexual services, advertise sexual services, assault with a weapon, three counts of assault, utter threats, possession of proceeds obtained by crime and laundering proceeds of crime.
Collins, of Milton, goes by the aliases Killah Da Crook and Cam. Collins is charged with trafficking in persons, three counts of procuring excise control, two counts of receive material benefit from sexual services, advertise sexual services, possession of proceeds obtained by crime, laundering proceeds of crime, four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking for cocaine, psilocybin, fentanyl and oxycodone and possession for the purpose of trafficking for cannabis.
Dimarco, of Burlington, goes by the aliases Coco and Ivy Love. She is charged with instruct to commit for the benefit of a criminal organization, two counts of trafficking in persons, two counts of receive material benefit from trafficking in persons, seven counts of procuring excise control, six counts of receive material benefit from sexual services, advertise sexual services, utter threats, possession of proceeds obtained by crime and laundering proceeds of crime.
Bennett, of Mississauga, goes by the aliases D-Boy Bennett and Benz. Bennett is charged with procuring excise control and possession of proceeds obtained by crime.
Merlyn Brooks, of Burlington, is charged with receive material benefit from sexual services and laundering proceeds of crime.
Malinda Brooks, of Burlington, is charged with receive material benefit from sexual services and laundering proceeds of crime.
Malisha Brooks, of Burlington, is charged with receive material from sexual services and laundering proceeds of crime.
Green, of Toronto, is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking for cannabis and possession for the purpose of trafficking for cocaine.
Brooks-Reynolds, of Mississauga, goes by the aliases J-Rip Severe, Drippy and JD. He is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking for cannabis, possession for the purpose of trafficking for cocaine and breach of release order.
Police say all three accused were held in custody pending their respective bail hearings in Milton, Ont.
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