A creep who went around Winnipeg videotaping unsuspecting women as “Mr. JetzTV” is accused of recruiting upwards of a dozen vulnerable, underage girls to work in prostitution and pornography.
Darrell Erwin Ackman, 43, is facing a long list of charges, including living off the avails of prostitution, sexual assault, and making child pornography.
Ackman’s penchant for capturing women on tape — some caught off-guard — and calling himself Mr. JetzTV drew fire from the public after the story emerged in February. He previously told the Winnipeg Sun that he’s trying to “be like Justin Bieber” by promoting his video clips in hopes of attracting fame and wealth. At the time, police said the videos did not contain anything illegal.
Months before, vice detectives had started an investigation, Winnipeg police revealed Wednesday.
The man was targeting underage girls “on the streets of Winnipeg,” said Insp. Gord Perrier, declining to name specific neighbourhoods. “These children are certainly preyed upon, and taken advantage of, and exploited.”
Police were tight-lipped about the specifics of the case, but Perrier said officers have uncovered evidence of production of child pornography that was destined for sale.
“This activity is definitely illegal and sex with children is wrong,” Perrier said.
Police also suggested the allegations involve an escort service that was used as a front for the sale of sex.
“It did involve the Internet under the guise of escort agencies, and certainly child prostitution, and he’s been charged with living off the avails of that,” said Perrier.
To date, four victims, all aged 14, have been positively identified, police said. Officers are getting help from social services agencies to search for eight other potential victims or witnesses, all underage girls from a “high risk population,” which can make them difficult to locate, Perrier said.
The investigation is continuing, and police ask anyone with tips or any possible victims to call the vice unit at 986-3464.
“It’s my belief more charges will result from this investigation,” Perrier said.
On Wednesday, Ackman declined to speak to media. Defence lawyer Martin Glazer said his client believes he is being treated unfairly.
Ackman was arrested July 23 on a pair of charges for living off the avails of prostitution. Just as he was about to be released Friday on bail, Ackman was unable to turn his passport over to the court because police were in possession of the travel document, according to Glazer, and Ackman had to spend more time in custody.
“What we’re saying is they should’ve done this all before so he didn’t spend any needless time behind bars,” Glazer said.
On April 1, 2010, he was arrested after allegedly dropping off and acting as a lookout for two prostitutes at a Fort Myers, Fla., hotel, according to a police report obtained by the Sun.
For $250 each, the young women were going to dance, strip and have sex with two people — a pair of undercover vice detectives, according to a report from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office report.
During the sting, Ackman was spotted in a yellow 2010 Chevrolet Camero, driving slowly in the parking lot, and he dropped off the two young women, the police report states.
“Ackman then parked his vehicle, got out, and checked a parked Dodge Charger, looking into the windows to ascertain if the vehicle was undercover law enforcement. Once Ackman determined that the parking lot was clear of any law enforcement, he made contact with the females to inform them that everything was good,” the report states.
Ackman, who had an address in Naples, Fla., was arrested and charged with one felony count of living off the earnings of a prostitute, and a misdemeanour count of transporting a person for the purpose of prostitution, Florida court records show.
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