ALERT: 2 Edmonton 15-year-olds manipulated, coerced into sex trade; suspect charged

An Edmonton man is accused of sexually exploiting and trafficking two teenage girls.

The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) alleges the suspect “manipulated and coerced” the 15-year-olds to work in the sex trade.

Phillip Matombo, 22, is facing more than 30 charges including trafficking a person under 18, advertising sexual services, sexual assault and distribution of child pornography.

During a nearly year-long investigation that began in May 2022, police allege Matombo attempted to lure two additional underage girls into the sex trade. Those girls would have been in the same “friend group” as the two victims, police claim.

“A few of these girls believed they were romantically involved in a relationship with their trafficker,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Hayes of ALERT’s human trafficking unit. “So they believed that they were boyfriend-girlfriend. They thought their trafficker was in love with them, that they were in love with their trafficker.

“And he really used this, used their emotions to manipulate them and have them believe that what they were doing was for the better good of their relationship.”

Hayes says the investigation began following a report from the girls’ school.

Police say the accused had no prior criminal record. He is currently detained due to breach of conditions as he “keeps attempting to contact the victims.”

Hayes called it a very complex investigation due to the amount of digital evidence and online documentation.

Police say the victims are receiving support.

“Unfortunately we are seeing a lot of younger girls being lured into these situations,” said Hayes. “There’s multiple different ways for them to be lured into these situations, whether that’s money or under the guise of being in a romantic relationship with their trafficker.”

Full list of charges:

• Trafficking a person under 18;
• Procuring a person under 18;
• Advertising sexual services;
• Material benefit from sexual services provided by a person under 18;
• Arrangement of sexual offenses using telecommunications;
• Sexual assault;
• Sexual interference;
• Distribution of intimate images;
• Possession of child pornography
• Distributing child pornography;
• Attempt to obstruct justice;
• Attempt to obstruct justice – judicial proceeding;
• Uttering threats to cause death;
• Breach of recognizance conditions.