
Human trafficking case ends on 'significant disclosure issue,' Hamilton Crown drops charges
On the day a month-long trial for a man accused of "significant" human trafficking was set to begin, the Crown's case fell apart over a technicality.
Christian Vitela, 37, and his defence lawyer had not received all disclosure or evidence related to the case in the years leading up to the criminal trial, assistant Crown attorney Heather Palin said on April 23.
"There was a significant disclosure issue, which crystallized late last week, which had potential implications to derail the [trial]," Palin told Ontario Court Justice Stephen Darroch.
Vitela hadn't accessed all phone records of the migrant workers he was charged with trafficking — the phones had been seized by the RCMP and were "typically core disclosure in human trafficking prosecutions," said Vitela's lawyer, Tobias Okada-Phillips.
The RCMP, which initially laid nine human trafficking charges against Vitela in 2019, have a different version of events. It includes that they notified Vitela on several occasions that the information was available, and set up a room and computer for him to view the materials, but he never showed up.
The RCMP told CBC Hamilton in an email in June that they don't comment on decisions made by prosecutors, but "the core disclosure that was required to prove the charges … was provided to the defence well in advance of the scheduled trial dates."
In the end, the Crown found the issue substantial enough to cancel the trial, with the judge's approval, and after reaching a plea agreement with Vitela. The Attorney General of Ontario declined to comment further.
The joint RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) investigation that began in 2018 involved multiple agencies — including federal immigration officials, and Ontario, Hamilton, Peel, Niagara and Waterloo police — with law enforcement saying they worked together to "combat crime and ensure the safety of all our citizens."
In May, CBSA said the arrests and sentencing reflected an "unwavering commitment to preserving the integrity of Canada's immigration system."
Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing crimes worldwide, says the Ontario government, which has a strategy and funding in place for police investigations and a special Crown team to "hold offenders accountable through vigorous prosecutions."
80 people found living in 'sub-standard conditions'
In 2019, RCMP charged Vitela for the more serious crime of human trafficking along with five other people on similar charges.
Police said in a news release that they'd found about 80 people from Mexico "subsiding in sub-standard conditions" across multiple properties, including a dozen in Vitela's Milton, Ont., home.
But this spring, Vitela admitted to the lesser charge of employing foreign nationals without authorization and was sentenced to two years of probation. He was also granted a conditional discharge, meaning he won't have a criminal record if he fulfils the probation requirements.
Vitela gave the migrant workers, who didn't have work permits, jobs through his employment agency, Palin said, reading from a joint submission agreed to by the defence.
Vitela would arrange their transportation to and from job sites across the Golden Horseshoe, including recycling and meat packing plants, greenhouses, and flower, fruit and mink farms, said Palin. Work conditions were, at times, gruelling.
Vitela collected payments from those businesses and paid the workers, minus rent and other expenses. Two workers received less money from Vitela than they'd expected, said Palin.
The RCMP told CBC Hamilton in an email last month that "conditions of control were in place at the Vitela residence."
"The victims reported that they were forced to give up their travel documents and were not allowed outdoors when they were at the residence," investigators said.
Human trafficking is a "modern-day form of slavery," says Public Safety Canada's website. It involves recruitment, transportation, harbouring and exercising control over people through forced labour.
The maximum sentence for someone found guilty of human trafficking is life imprisonment.
At the hearing in April, Vitela apologized "for not screening and vetting" two people who worked for him "over six years ago for a couple of weeks."
The judge recognized the "significant impact" the charges have had on Vitela's life, including on his business and ability to travel.
"Having charges hanging over someone's head for so long can have a significant deterrent effect on someone," said Darroch. "I hope that's the case for you."
The RCMP charges against Vitela's mother were also withdrawn.
Case connected to other trafficking crimes in Hamilton
Vitela was connected to two people in Hamilton who were also charged with human trafficking in the RCMP investigation: Miurel Bracamonte and Mario Roca Morales, said Palin.
Bracamonte, 47, picked up and transported workers to job sites, arranged by Vitela and Roca Morales, and went on to run her own employment agency, said assistant Crown attorney Jim Cruess at a hearing in February 2023.
"I did give them a job — I am guilty of that," Bracamonte told the court.
She pleaded guilty to employing foreign nationals without authorization, and was sentenced to four months of house arrest and eight months probation.
"The allegations against Miurel was that she was a secondary player in the group," said Cruess in 2023. "The most serious of them are against Mr. Roca [Morales] and Mr. Vitela."
Roca Morales, 52, pleaded guilty to three counts of human trafficking in February 2024 and was sentenced to 8½ years in prison.
The facts of his case were laid out in a joint submission filed with the court and seen by CBC Hamilton.
The six people from Mexico entered Canada through Montreal and Toronto airports in 2018 and 2019, and worked for Roca Morales while living in squalid conditions in Hamilton. He determined their pay, how much they supposedly owed him and delayed payments.
He would verbally berate and threaten to physically harm them, take away their jobs or housing, or have them arrested, while dressing in camouflage and at times carrying a gun, said the joint submission. He sexually assaulted one of the women and told others he wanted to impregnate them, it said.
Another woman who lived in his apartment said she was "fearful the whole time ... as he was always drinking and violent toward his wife," the court document said. Roca Morales restricted when they could bathe, when they could go outside and what they could eat.
Upwards of 12 people would live in one of his houses at a time, which were infested with bedbugs, cockroaches and mice.
One man "opened the fridge and saw cockroaches pour out of the crisper," said the joint submission.
At his sentencing hearing, Roca Morales called some of the victims "criminals" and told the judge to "f--k off."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Winnipeg Free Press
36 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Upgrade to charge against man with al-Qaida ties as punishment for alleged terrorism
MONTREAL – A federal Crown prosecutor has upgraded a charge of uttering threats to a terrorism offence for a convicted al-Qaida supporter. Prosecutor Samuel Monfette-Tessier says he's invoking a section of the Criminal Code that would allow the court to sentence the accused to life in prison. Mohamed Abdullah Warsame, 51, was charged last month after allegedly telling an employee at a Montreal homeless shelter that he wanted to build bombs and detonate them on public transit. Monfette-Tessier says he thinks the case marks the first time in Quebec that prosecutors have used the Criminal Code section to upgrade an existing charge to punish someone for alleged terrorist activity. Warsame was psychologically evaluated after his arrest, and the results have been sealed at the defence's request. The RCMP have said Warsame pleaded guilty in Minnesota in 2009 to providing material support to the terrorist organization al-Qaida. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 7, 2025.


CTV News
37 minutes ago
- CTV News
Fireworks damage Windsor pickleball court
Some pickleball players say they have one less court to play on following vandalism at Fontainebleau Park. 'It costs a lot of money for these courts and the city put the money out,' says pickleball player, Marc Dibiase. 'People are lighting fireworks. Go do it on the grass.' James Chacko, executive director of parks and facilities at the City of Windsor, confirms the cause of damage is lighting fireworks. He says a handful of complaints came in on July 2. City workers then went in and cleaned up the area but permanent damage to the surface remains. Chacko says are no plans to replace the surface at this time. Pickleball court sign A pickleball court sign in Windsor, Ont., on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Stefanie Masotti/CTV News Windsor) Amenities like these are not locked at night in the City of Windsor. Chacko describes the vandalism as an isolated incident. A police report has since been filed. The city asks the public to call 311 or the Windsor Police non-emergency line if they have any further information. 'I hope they have cameras and can find the people so that they can pay for the repairs,' said Dibiase.


Global News
39 minutes ago
- Global News
Winnipeg cops arrest suspect in random Forks assault
Winnipeg police have made an arrest in connection with a random assault at The Forks a month ago. The incident took place on the night of June 6, when a 30-year-old man was attacked and knocked to the ground, police said, with the attack continuing even after he was unconscious. Early Sunday morning, police tracked a suspect to a Jefferson Avenue apartment building, where the suspect allegedly jumped from a third-floor window in an attempt to escape, police said. After a short foot chase and with the use of a taser, police were able to take him into custody. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The suspect, 33, was also wanted for another robbery and a break-in on June 7, and was the subject of a Canada-wide warrant. He has been charged with two counts of robbery, breaking and entering, theft, resisting arrest and being unlawfully at large. Story continues below advertisement