Monday, September 28, 2026 - A Quebec man has been found guilty of human trafficking after continuing to control and exploit a woman through phone calls while he was serving time in a Manitoba prison.
Jean-François D’Asti-Brideau was convicted of human trafficking, benefiting from proceeds of trafficking, pimping, disobeying a court order and obstruction of justice, according to a Manitoba court decision. Prosecutors said he made nearly 1,000 calls to the woman, who was his common-law partner and whose identity is protected.
The case showed how the trafficking continued despite D’Asti-Brideau being behind bars. Manitoba Judge Denis Guénette reviewed 100 of the calls and found that 88 involved conversations between D’Asti-Brideau and the woman.
The communications formed part of the evidence used to establish that he continued directing and influencing her involvement in sex work for more than 14 months while he remained in custody.
The conviction highlights how criminal exploitation can continue even when an alleged trafficker is physically separated from a victim. The case also raises questions about how communications from correctional facilities can be monitored and how victims can be protected from continued control.
Manitoba's inmate telephone system allows prisoners to make monitored calls, with callers required to identify themselves before a connection is completed, according to provincial authorities.
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