Two people from Windsor and three from Chatham-Kent have been arrested as part of a massive police investigation into online child exploitation.
The Ontario Provincial Police released details Thursday about the province-wide operation, which involved police agencies from around the province, as well as the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
In total, 80 people are facing charges after authorities executed 174 search warrants.
The Windsor Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit was involved in two investigations as part of the provincial Strategy and two people were charged.
Marc Oliver, 23, from Windsor is charged with possession of child pornography and accessing child pornography.
Michael G. Smith, 24, from Windsor is charged with possession of child pornography and accessing child pornography.
Over the last 3 weeks, the Chatham-Kent Police Internet Child Exploitation Unit has also conducted child porn investigations. Three men were arrested and charged in relation to 3 separate investigations. Numerous electronic devices were also seized.
James Johnston, 51, of Chatham, was arrested and charged with making child pornography available and possession of child pornography. He was released with conditions pending a future court date of May 6, 2016.
Shannon Mathewson, 45, was arrested and charged with for luring a person under 16 years of age by means of telecommunication device and making sexually explicit material available to a person under 16 years of age. He was released with conditions pending a future court date of June 1, 2016.
A 54-year-old Chatham man was also arrested after a month long investigation by the Chatham-Kent Police ICE Unit for accessing child pornography, possession of child pornography and making available child pornography. He was released with conditions pending a future court date of May 4, 2016.
Police say they have identified 20 victims in the case.
