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In September 2024, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Detectives assigned to the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit commenced an investigation into the sexual extortion of a youth who resides in the United States.  The NRPS ICE Unit was alerted to this complaint by law enforcement partners in the United States who had identified a victim and commenced safeguarding measures.

On November 7th, 2024, Detectives from the ICE Unit and Technological Crime Unit executed a search warrant at a private residence in Welland and seized numerous devices capable of storing electronic data.  A digital forensic examination of these devices uncovered evidence to suggest that Dylan Allan SMITH (32 years of age) was using the internet to sexually extort numerous persons under the age of 18 within Canada, the United States and several other countries.

On November 13th, 2024 Detectives located and arrested Dylan Allan SMITH for the offence of   

• Possession of Child Pornography 

Dylan Allan SMITH was held in custody after his arrest and is set to appear for a bail hearing on November 14th, 2024, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.

NRPS ICE Detectives are working diligently to identify numerous unknown victims found on the seized devices belonging to Dylan Allan SMITH and are appealing to the public for assistance.  Dylan Allan SMITH is known to use the following vanity/profile names to sexually extort youth:

“Dopious”, “Poloipoloi”, “Addipoloi”, “Dandatsy”, “Dmanslam”, “Daddypoloi”

Online platforms that allow like-minded users to engage with minors, create, share and store Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) are prevalent on the Internet.  Offenders who attempt to sexually extort children behind an anonymous account on different platforms can be identified and will be held accountable for their actions.

For more information on how parents and guardians can keep children safe online CLICK HERE

The Niagara Regional Police Service is a member of the Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Abuse and Exploitation on the Internet and conducts investigations into Internet Child Exploitation Offences in partnership with Ontario Police Services and International Partners. This investigative initiative has been made possible by a grant from the Ministry of the Solicitor General.

Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information that leads to an arrest.

 

Incident #24-106015