Toronto police officer charged in underage sex trafficking investigation

A Toronto police constable has been charged after an investigation by the force's human trafficking enforcement team, the Star has learned.

Toronto police are expected to announce details Friday about Project One Six, which launched in late 2019 after police received information that a 16-year-old girl was being sexually exploited in the area of Pape Avenue and Cosburn Avenue.

Between March 2020 and until last month, investigators worked to identify 10 clients involved in the alleged exploitation, one of whom is a fellow officer, according to a source close to the investigation.

Const. Peter Roberts, 49, has been charged with one count of obtaining sexual services for consideration from a person under 18 years old.

Roberts, a 51 division officer, has been suspended with pay. He could not immediately be reached for comment.

On Friday morning, police released the names of nine other men in the Toronto area who charged with seeking sexual services from a minor.

They are: Aryan Khemka, 19, Mohammad Ahmadi, 35, Paul Pochmurski, 45, Sayad Jalai, 27, Feiya Liu, 29, Angel Pina Sanchez, 36, Dragomir Popovic, 41, Austin Morden, 27, and Michael Yimer, 29.

Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing for the Star. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis