Four local suspects identified in massive OPP child porn bust ‘Project Steel’
Posted Mar 7, 2025 05:33:38 AM.
Last Updated Mar 7, 2025 10:32:02 AM.
Three men from Waterloo Region have been charged in “Project Steel”, a massive nationwide bust of child porn and child exploitation.
The local accused men are all in their 30’s and 40’s, from Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge.
A Kitchener man is facing 12 charges, including possessing, making, and accessing child porn, plus sexual interference and sexual assault.
A 35-year-old Cambridge male and a 45-year-old Waterloo male were each charged with possession of child pornography and making available child pornography.
Police have a warrant out for an arrest of another Kitchener male, wanted on two counts of possession of child pornography.
Project Steel is described by the OPP as “a coordinated national operation to identify and apprehend those who prey on children.”
Police said 31 victims were identified, and 20 children were safeguarded.
Forty suspects have been arrested across Ontario, for a combined total of 151 charges.
Their ages range from two 15-year-olds, from Minesing and Barrie, to a 77-year-old from Richmond Hill.
Police have also seized 686 electronic devices.
The OPP say among the accused was a repeat violent offender who “had previously served a significant prison sentence for sexual offences”, was arrested again”. OPP say an analysis of seized devices uncovered evidence of a sexual assault on a child in a public space as well as the online victimization of dozens more children.
570 NewsRadio has reached out to OPP to identify the repeat offender.
