Kitchener minor a victim of 'child sextortion scheme' in Minnesota, U.S.
What the United States Attorney’s Office is calling a “child sextortion scheme” run by a man from Coon Rapids, Minnesota involved a minor from Kitchener, Ont.
An investigation conducted by law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Waterloo Regional Police Service, resulted in a 24-year-old man being sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by 12 years of supervised release for a sextortion scheme that targeted minors through social media and an online gaming forum, according the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota.
Officials said Glen Robert Anderson was sentenced on March 15 – nearly a year after pleading guilty to two counts of production of child pornography, one count of enticement of a minor and one count of interstate communications with intent to extort.
In an email to CTV News Kitchener, a spokesperson for WRPS said a victim was from Kitchener, and one of the police service investigators assisted. They were not able to provide any further information.
According to the Attorney’s office, Anderson previously worked as a middle school paraprofessional in special education.
“Anderson used multiple internet applications and social media accounts for email, file sharing, and chatting with minors, including Snapchat and Grindr,” a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota said.
The release continues to say: “Anderson also owned and administered an online gaming forum. To participate in the forum, users were required to submit an application, which included the age of the user.”
Due to the included ages, the attorney’s office said Anderson knew many of the uses were minors born between April 1, 2016 and August 20, 2021.
“Anderson used his position as the forum administrator to groom minors to produce child pornography and engage in sexual activity with him, including by providing minors with in-game perks, privileges, and other gifts,” the Attorney’s office said.
The Attorney’s office said one example of the sextortion was when Anderson “coerced a 13-year-old victim to engage in sexually explicit acts for the purpose of producing images and videos.”
Anderson later threatened to release those sexually explicit images if the victim did not respond to his demands.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
BREAKING Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
How do you navigate the social media minefield with your kids?
Growing fears about social media's harm have sparked lawsuits against social media companies from hundreds of school districts in the United States and now Canada. CTVNews.ca wants to know whether your children are addicted to social media or if you have concerns about their usage of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and X.