Woman sentenced for sex trafficking girls in Moncton

A 19-year-old woman has been sentenced to three years in prison for sex trafficking two girls in the Moncton area. She pleaded guilty in February to multiple charges related to the case. The woman recruited and controlled two minors, advertising sexual services with them and benefiting financially from the crimes. In court, the judge described her actions as "reprehensible." He highlighted how she manipulated the victims, who were far from home and felt coerced into providing sexual services. The woman started engaging in sex work herself as a teenager after her mother's death and later transitioned to recruiting others. Defense attorney Daniel Gallant explained that the woman was once a victim herself, taken advantage of by others in the sex trade. He noted how she moved from being prey to becoming a predator, blurring the lines between victim and offender. The judge expressed hope that the sentencing would break this cycle of abuse. Victims of the trafficking spoke out in court, detailing the emotional scars left by the experience. One girl shared that she felt angry and worthless, while the other expressed feelings of helplessness and the strain on her family relationships. Both girls were commended for their bravery in coming forward. The court heard that police became aware of the situation when a cab driver reported suspicions about one of the girls. This led to the girls being rescued. The woman’s sentence was reduced to three years after accounting for time spent in custody since her arrest last April. Her age, guilty plea, and lack of a criminal record were considered mitigating factors in the sentencing.