A pimp who had promised teenage girls money and friendship to lure them into her spouse’s prostitution ring was sentenced to 18 months in prison, under the gaze of those she betrayed.
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“She was aware that the victims were young girls who were engaged in prostitution under the influence of her spouse. They were particularly vulnerable, and she knew it, ”said Judge David Simon on Friday, before sentencing Claire Nicolle at the Montreal courthouse.
Sitting in the courtroom, Nicolle, 33, remained attentive throughout the reading of the judgment sealing her fate for her crimes dating back to 2016.
Courtesy picture
Claire Nicole
At the time, she was under the thumb of Luis Fernando Camacho Vera, a dangerous pimp who recruited his victims through Kijiji ads.
And when she was offered to partner with him to attract other girls in her place, Nicolle jumped at the chance, also becoming the raptor’s spouse.
“In addition to being involved in recruitment, she drove them, gave them certain instructions, and sometimes collected money,” explained the magistrate.
The price of easy money
In 15 months, she had five victims, including four minors.
“I am ashamed to have fallen into this trap, had testified one of the victims. This “easy money” cost me three hospitalizations, I suffer from anxiety, I am still on medication. »
Camacho Vera has since been sentenced to a record 15 years in prison.
Nicolle, who has since separated from the pimp, hoped to get out of it without going to prison. Not only had she pleaded guilty to a host of charges, but she sincerely regretted her actions, pleaded her lawyer, Mike Junior Boudreau. He also recalled that according to the evidence, his client did not know that the victims were minors.
“I am aware of having contributed to the weight that they will carry. It was the biggest mistake of my life,” Nicolle testified, portraying herself as a naive woman.
Jail closed
She hoped to get out of it with house arrest, community service and probation, and then return to live in France.
But such a sentence would have been too lenient, the judge explained in a comprehensive decision. Because even if his degree of responsibility was much less than Camacho Vera, pimping had to be severely punished.
The Crown was asking for 30 months in prison, but after weighing the details of the case, the judge concluded that an 18-month prison sentence was reasonable. On bail, Nicolle was thus handcuffed, under the gaze of the victims in the room.
“I hope that the wounds of the victims, oh so painful, will be able to heal over time, concluded the judge. I hope you can now turn the page. »
Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com