Two men and a 17-year-old girl are facing a slew of charges after a 13-year-old girl was allegedly coerced into the sex trade, and assaulted multiple times over the span of about a month.

Toronto police Insp. Joanna Beaven-Desjardins said the victim met a 17-year-old female suspect on Facebook in October and the pair began communicating. The victim and the older teen shared mutual friends, Beaven-Desjardins said.

“It enabled the female (accused) to develop a false friendship and lure the victim away from her home.”

The 17-year-old suspect told the victim “they could work together and make a lot of money,” along with another suspect, 22-year-old Kahmal Paris, Beaven-Desjardins said.

The victim told the accused that she was only 13, to no avail.

The victim was brought to Paris’ home in Toronto, where Paris, the 17-year-old female and a third suspect, 19-year-old Alico Allen, allegedly told the accused she would be taken to Niagara Falls to perform sexual acts for money.

“The victim told the accused that she did not want to engage in these acts, however she was advised it was no longer her choice and was threatened with physical violence if she did not follow their direction,” Beaven-Desjardins said.

Paris and the 17-year-old accused allegedly posted pictures of the victim undressed on a website, offering her sexual services.

The victim was allegedly sexually assaulted by Paris three times in three days while she was in Niagara Falls, Beaven-Desjardins said.

Later, the victim was brought back to Toronto via Guelph and allegedly forced to provide sexual services to johns in Brampton and Toronto.

“The victim was forced to turn over all of her money to all three of the accused,” Beaven-Desjardins said.

On Nov. 9, Paris allegedly became angry with the victim and started beating her. After Paris left the home, Beaven-Desjardins said the victim snuck out, “fearing for her life,” and flagged down a passerby.

The passerby called police and the victim was taken to safety.

Police later searched the home where the victim was allegedly held, finding Paris, Allen and the 17-year-old female accused there. All three were arrested.

“A quantity of items was seized at the residence that corroborates the abuse of this victim,” Beaven-Desjardins.

Paris was charged with 12 criminal offences related to trafficking of a minor for sex.

Allen was charged with human trafficking and procuring and exercising control.

The 17-year-old girl was charged with eight offences related to human trafficking.

Beaven-Desjardins said there may be other victims who have not yet come forward.

She said there would have been no doubt in any of the johns’ mind that the victim was underage.

“To put this in perspective, a 13-year-old is either in grade 7 or grade 8, this female looked like she was 13,” Beaven-Desjardins said.

The victim is receiving care and counselling services from multiple agencies.

Police say that there is increasing use of young women as intermediaries, to build a rapport and trust with potential victims before they are trafficked.

Beaven-Desjardins added that if there was no demand for sex with underage girls; criminals would not go to lengths to press young girls into providing sexual services.

“Johns, we are coming after you,” she said. “Without the demand we would not need the supply.”