A 44-year-old man from Calgary is facing serious charges related to child sexual exploitation following a coordinated online undercover investigation.
Undercover Operation Exposes Alleged Offender
The investigation was initiated by the Guelph Police Service in Ontario. An officer from their unit went undercover online, assuming the identity of a 13-year-old girl. During the ensuing conversations, an adult male began communicating with the decoy profile.
Authorities allege that the man sent photographs of himself and engaged in discussions about meeting for the purpose of sexual activity, fully aware he was speaking with someone he believed to be a child.
Cross-Provincial Collaboration Leads to Arrest
Once investigators traced the male's location to Calgary, Alberta, the case was transferred to the provincial Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT). This specialized unit took over the file to conduct the local phase of the operation.
The collaboration between the Ontario and Alberta police forces culminated in the arrest of the suspect in Calgary.
Charges and Ongoing Investigation
The accused now faces multiple criminal charges. These include making and distributing child sexual abuse material, a charge that was formerly known as child pornography. He is also charged with luring a child under the age of 16.
The investigation remains ongoing, as is standard procedure in such complex cases, as authorities work to determine if there are other victims or related offences.
