Content warning: The following post includes information related to online child sexual offences that may be triggering for some followers.
On April 4, 2023, the RCMP-RNC Integrated Internet Child Exploitation (IICE) Team arrested 22-year-old William Vey of Portugal Cove-St. Philips. He is charged with a number of online child exploitation offences, with victims based in the United Kingdom and United States.
In April of 2022, with the assistance of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, IICE executed a search warrant at a home in Portugal Cove - St. Philips after a report of online child exploitation activity. A number of electronic items were seized and sent for forensic analysis.
The results of the forensic analysis, as well as other evidence collected, led to Vey's arrest yesterday. In accordance with arrest and release procedures, Vey was released on conditions designed to protect the general public. He is scheduled to appear in Provincial Court in St. John's on May 18, 2023, to answer to charges including:
- Child luring - four counts
- Extortion - two counts
- Accessing child pornography
Child pornography cases require complex forensic examination of seized electronics, followed by additional investigation actions. Consequently, criminal charges in these cases are often laid 9-12 months after the execution of a search warrant.
The RCMP-RNC IICE team encourages caregivers and youth to learn about current online threats and safety practices at cybertips.ca, protectchildren.ca, kidsintheknow.ca and dontgetsextorted.ca.