Investigators with the ALERT Internet Child Exploitation Unit said a lengthy investigation focusing on child porn has wrapped up with more than a dozen suspects in custody.
ALERT said the investigation, called Operation ICE Reign was launched as a response to a spike in child sexual exploitation offences.
Over the last six years, the ICE unit has recorded a 75 percent spike in the number of new child sexual exploitation cases. The specialized unit focuses on cases involving child pornography, any computer-related child sexual abuse, child luring over the internet, voyeurism involving victims who are minors and child sex trade.
The arrests related to Operation ICE Reign took place between June and October of 2016 – the accused are all male, and range in age from 26 to 61-years-old:
- Jeremy Able, 27, of Edmonton
- Aaron Badger, 26, of Bonnyville
- Brian Bandura, 61, of Edmonton
- Nicholas Bauer, 28, of Edmonton
- Robert Caissie, 26, of Edmonton
- Brett Gray, 38, of Edmonton
- Daniel Houde, 44, of Fort McMurray
- Daniel Kozel, 38, of Edmonton
- Alexandre Martin, 29, of Fort McMurray
- James Morris, 40, of Grande Prairie
- Freddy Reiter, 56, of St. Albert
- James Reiter, 39, of Spruce Grove
- Peter Ritchie, 45, of Kikino Metis Settlement
- Cody Roguski, 32, of Fort McMurray
The accused are facing a total of 33 charges between them.
ALERT said none of the accused work in professions of trust or authority, and there is no clear link between the suspects other than the similarity in offences.
