A Saskatchewan ICE investigation has led to identifying an Australian man who was grooming and luring young females online and his guilty plea to 56 charges of the 117 counts he was charged with.
On October 3, 2019, the ICE Unit began investigating a complaint from Regina, from the parents of a 14-year-old female, that their daughter was being lured online and counselled for sexual touching through two social media applications.
The ICE investigation in Saskatchewan identified an Australian male youth care worker who was responsible, and who the Australian authorities were unaware of. The ICE Unit worked with the Australian Federal Police Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team who were then able to use the evidence gathered in Saskatchewan to obtain a search warrant in their country. This search led to the seizure of the offender’s devices, and, after analysis, identified many other international child victims.
The Saskatchewan ICE investigation was the catalyst which led to a serial offender being identified, charged and the rescue of numerous young females from continued victimization.
The Saskatchewan ICE Unit is comprised of investigators from the RCMP, Regina Police Service, Saskatoon Police Service, and Prince Albert Police Service. Their mandate is to investigate crimes involving the abuse and/or exploitation of children on the Internet.
