Decade long Canada-wide human trafficking ring had ties to Cold Lake

Left to right: Kevin Dorcellus-Cetoute, Jean Dubois, and Clyde Elien-Abbot, are in police custody as harrowing details of human trafficking with ties to the Lakeland area have been released. Images: ALERT. 

Three perpetrators of human trafficking are believed to have worked in Cold Lake as part of a nation-wide ring that used coercion on their victims to perform sex acts, said ALERT, a provincial service that targets organized crime. 

Information released on Thursday details an operation that has gone on for a decade or more, say authorities, following the arrest of Clyde Elien-Abbot, 31, Kevin Dorcelus-Cetoute, 31, and Jean Rodnil Dubois, all from Montreal – although more suspects may be out there.  

ALERT has been investigating for over a year. Dubbed “Project Endgame”, the perpetrators are believed to have worked in Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Lloydminster, Red Deer, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, Cold Lake, and Estevan.  

Over 10 human trafficking victims were located and provided resources, and ALERT believes there are additional victims and encourages them to contact police.

“The perpetrators allegedly controlled the victims through coercion by forcing them to perform multiple sex acts on multiple clients every day. If the victims question the traffickers or dispute the situation, they were often violently assaulted, degraded, and/or threatened of further loss, violence, and isolation,” said the press release.  

‘Cycle of sexualized violence’

Project Endgame began in May 2023, it continues, following a 911 call placed to police detailing a sex worker being violently assaulted.

The investigation has connections to a 2021 ALERT human trafficking investigation in which Dorcelus-Cetoute was charged. 

“Project Endgame exhausted all resources and avenues to bring charges against the suspects and end this cycle of sexualized violence and degradation,” said Staff Sergeant Chris Hayes, ALERT.

Arrests and search warrants had taken place in Edmonton, Montreal, and Red Deer. 

A total of 23 charges related to human trafficking offences have been laid against the accused. Elien-Abbot was arrested on January 31, 2025 in Edmonton, while the other two accused were arrested on July 23, 2024 in Red Deer. 

Clyde Elien-Abbot, 31-year-old from Montreal, is charged with:

• Trafficking in persons;
• Procuring;
• Material benefit from sexual services;
• Advertising sexual services;
• Money laundering; and
• Animal cruelty.

Kevin Dorcelus-Cetoute, 31-year-old from Montreal, is charged with:

• Sexual assault;
• Assault;
• Trafficking in persons;
• Procuring;
• Material benefit from sexual services; and
• Uttering threats.

Jean Rodnil Dubois, 31-year-old from Montreal, is charged with:

• Sexual assault;
• Assault;
• Trafficking in persons;
• Procuring;
• Material benefit from sexual services; and
• Uttering threats.

Elien-Abbot remains in custody and has a bail hearing scheduled for February 19, 2025. Dorcelus-Cetoute and Dubois also remain in custody and are scheduled to appear in court on March 7, 2025.