Notorious B.C. pimp, trafficker has sentence reduced on appeal
Reza Moazami is seen exiting Vancouver provincial court in this file photo from December 2011. (CTV News)
Reza Moazami, a B.C. man who was convicted of 30 crimes involving the trafficking, pimping, sexual assault and exploitation of 11 young female victims, has had his prison sentence reduced.
Moazami's 23-year-sentence – originally handed down in 2015 – was reduced to 20 years and eight months by B.C.'s Court of Appeal Thursday. Moazami was the first person ever convicted of human trafficking in B.C. His victims ranged from 14 to 19 years old, his crimes spanning a two-and-a-half-year period.
'It is important to point out, and indeed to stress, that the appellant's criminal conduct was grave and morally reprehensible. He engaged in predatory and exploitative criminal behaviour toward a large number of vulnerable young victims. His conduct was punctuated by coercion and sexual violence toward a number of them,' Justice Janet Winteringham wrote in a unanimous decision of the three-judge panel.
'Every one of the appellant's victims was an individual who suffered indignity at the hands of the appellant. All were traumatized, some severely, to the point that they continued to struggle years afterward.'
Moazami appealed his sentence on multiple grounds and sought to introduce 'fresh evidence' about the misconduct of the lead detective on the case, Jim Fisher – who pleaded guilty of breach of trust and sexual exploitation involving one of the victims.
The application to introduce this evidence was dismissed, as was Moazami's bid for a 'sentencing remedy' on constitutional grounds due to 'egregious misconduct by state agents,' according to the decision.
Moazami claimed the sentencing judge made a number of legal errors, citing six grounds for appeal – all but one of which was rejected.
The high court found an 'error in principle' made by the sentencing judge when weighing the aggravating factors in the case and imposing a sentence longer than the one proposed by Crown counsel.
'The judge justified this position, in part, because the appellant 'subjected these young, marginalized young women to the fear, stress, and aggravation of a long trial; he re-victimized the complainants and he lied to the court under oath,'' the appeal decision says, quoting in part from the sentencing decision.
'In my respectful view, when the judge explained the higher sentence, she linked it, in error, to the appellant's decision to proceed with a trial, and in some respects, to the manner in which the trial was conducted. I have concluded the error directly impacted the sentence,' Winteringham wrote, explaining that the court can consider a guilty plea as mitigating but should not treat the exercise of one's right to trial as aggravating.
Given that error, the court found the judge did not have a legally sound reason to impose a sentence beyond the 20 years and eight months Crown proposed.
'The trial judge found a pressing need for denunciation and deterrence, a conclusion that has not been disturbed on appeal and is fully supported by the evidence at trial and sentencing,' Winteringham wrote.
'Clearly, the appellant's offending conduct called for a very lengthy penitentiary sentence.'
Moazami also appealed a three-year sentence for attempting to obstruct justice and breaching court-ordered conditions, which was dismissed Thursday. That conviction stemmed from his violation of a no-contact order when he 'conspired with a cellmate' to try to prevent one of the complainants from testifying in the trafficking case.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
15 minutes ago
- CTV News
26-year-old charged after 2 luxury vehicles stolen from Oakville home's driveway
Police charged a 26-year-old from Scarborough after two luxury vehicles were stolen from the driveway of an Oakville home earlier this week. Halton Regional Police allege multiple suspects broke into a home on Ribble Crescent on Thursday at around 3:15 a.m. and stole the keys to the cars while the residents slept. Hours later, an officer found a group of men wearing masks in a 'suspicious' vehicle parked at a townhouse complex on Sheridan Garden Drive. When the group saw police, officers said they tried to drive away but collided into a marked cruiser. Police say the suspects ran away and nobody was injured as a result of the collision. An officer was able to arrest one of the suspects after chasing them on foot. Following a search of the suspect's vehicle, police say they found evidence connecting the group to the incident on Ribble Crescent. At this time the two stolen vehicles have not been recovered, police said. In a news release on Friday, police say they arrested Angel Harris, who is facing various charges including possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of break-in instruments and two counts of theft of a motor vehicle. The charges have not been tested in court. Investigators are still working to identify the outstanding suspects, and did not provide further details about them. Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 905-825-4777, ext. 2216, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
CTV News
32 minutes ago
- CTV News
Thieves accused of stealing $100K of material from Parry Sound area business
Two suspects accused of stealing $100K worth of material caught on security camera. June 2025 (Ontario Provincial Police) Surveillance cameras captured images of two suspects and a vehicle accused in the theft of $100,000 in material from a business in the Parry Sound area earlier this month. Investigators from the West Parry Sound detachment were called to the scene on Oastler Park Drive near Hunter Drive in the Township of Seguin around 11:30 a.m. June 9, Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Thursday night. 'Approximately $100,000 worth of material was removed from the property between June 7 and June 9, OPP said. 'Suspects and a white cube van were captured by security cameras.' White cube van allegedly used to steal $100K in material from Parry Sound area business White cube van allegedly used to steal $100K in material from Parry Sound area business. June 2025 (Ontario Provincial Police) The crime unit is assisting with the investigation. 'Anyone with information is urged to call the West Parry Sound OPP at 1-888-310-1122,' police said. 'Should you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000." One of the surveillance images shared by police shows two suspects walking through a yellow gate. Both suspects appear to be wearing black hoodies and white gloves. One of the suspects appears to be wearing brown, knee-length shorts while the second suspect is wearing black pants and a blue and white surgical facemask. It is unclear what type of material was stolen.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Sault rock thrower broke car windshield, window, police say
A 42-year-old man has been charged following reports this week of a broken windshield on Wellington Street East in Sault Ste. Marie. (File photo) A 42-year-old man has been charged following reports this week of broken glass on Wellington Street East in Sault Ste. Marie. A 911 call came in at 1 a.m. about mischief in the area, police said in a news release. 'An investigation revealed the accused had thrown a rock through the windshield of a vehicle and through a window of a building, causing damage,' police said. 'Officers located the accused several hours later in the 600 block of Albert Street East. They were arrested.' He was charged with mischief over $5,000 and was released on an undertaking, with a court date of Aug. 18.
