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
Video shows suspect setting Toronto-area barbershop on fire
Video of a suspect lighting a Richmond Hill barbershop on fire earlier this week has been released by police.
'I have the will to live': N.B. woman needs double lung transplant
A New Brunswick woman suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that limits your lung capacity, is in need of a double lung transplant.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
Premier Legault reiterates that McGill pro-Palestinian camp must be dismantled
Quebec Premier François Legault reiterated that the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill University must be dismantled while police remain 'on the lookout for new developments.'