In a precedent-setting decision, an Ontario judge has ordered a Brampton man convicted of human trafficking to turn over more than $35,000 in luxury goods — including a Rolex watch, diamond necklace, and sports car — back to the woman he exploited.
Justice Sandra Nishikawa sentenced Nicholas Shamar Bryan, 29, to five years in prison and ruled that items purchased with the victim’s forced earnings should be returned to her as compensation. The seized items include:
- 2019 Subaru BRZ valued at $15,000
- Diamond-encrusted Rolex worth $14,000
- Custom “YPC” necklace valued at $6,650
The victim, an Indigenous woman who met Bryan on Tinder in 2020 while living in a Toronto shelter, estimated she was coerced into handing over nearly $50,000 from sex work between early 2021 and mid-2021. Bryan established a daily quota of $1,000, forced her to work seven days a week, and often left her isolated in hotel rooms across the GTA, Peterborough, Brantford, and Niagara.
“These items were purchased with money that Mr. Bryan took from the victim while she was being trafficked,” Justice Nishikawa stated. She ruled that two other seized items — a diamond ring and emerald pendant — would not be transferred because Bryan could have purchased them with his own savings.
A Pattern of Exploitation
Court documents described how Bryan manipulated and controlled the woman, who said she felt “not human” under his control. She often slept only two to three hours per night and had to beg him for food money, sometimes being refused entirely.
Although Bryan initially denied the charges and claimed he was innocent, he ultimately apologized in court. Family members testified that he had longstanding mental health challenges, though the court found him fit to stand trial.
A jury convicted Bryan of human trafficking, material benefit, and possession of proceeds of crime. He was acquitted of cocaine trafficking and an assault charge was withdrawn, while a mistrial was declared on a sexual assault count.
Sentencing
The Crown sought an eight-year sentence, while the defence asked for three and a half. Justice Nishikawa imposed:
- 5 years for human trafficking
- 3 years for material benefit
- 1.5 years for possession of proceeds
All sentences will be served concurrently.
The victim, whose identity is protected, told the court she continues to carry the emotional and psychological trauma of her exploitation but is now focusing on healing.
Anyone affected by human trafficking can contact the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010 or call 911 in emergencies.