Montreal police make second arrest in Robert Miller investigation

Police have arrested a 67-year-old woman who they say was an accomplice to Robert Miller, the Montreal billionaire charged with sexual assault and exploitation of 10 women and girls.

Montreal police said Tuesday that Teresita Fuentes has been arrested and charged with procuring sexual services in connection with one of Miller's 10 alleged victims. Eight of them were minors at the time of the alleged crimes.

Miller, the former owner of Future Electronics, a Montreal-based electronic parts distributor, was arrested at his Westmount, Que., home last week.

The charges against Miller and Fuentes are the culmination of a yearlong police investigation, which was triggered by a CBC/Radio-Canada investigation that aired in February 2023.

According to the charges against him, Miller paid several young girls in exchange for sexual favours between 1994 and 2016. He faces 21 charges, including sexual assault, obtaining sexual services for consideration and several counts of sexual exploitation of minors.

The women who spoke to CBC/Radio-Canada claimed they'd been paid thousands of dollars in cash and showered with designer clothes, handbags and shoes. They also claimed that Miller paid them generous incentives to recruit their friends.

Last week in a written statement, Miller said he was innocent and signalled his intention to fight the allegations. He said that "the clear motivation behind this whole case, dating back as far as 30 years ago, is easy financial gain" at his expense.

Miller "deplores" the fact that the prosecution proceeded with charges "notwithstanding its knowledge that his state of health prevents him from defending himself," the statement said.

Miller, 80, has late-stage Parkinson's disease.

Fuentes was released from custody on a promise to appear in court on July 3.