In August of 2023, Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Detectives assigned to the Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) Unit began an investigation into the upload of Child Sexual Abuse Material to a Google cloud-based storage service.
On December 7th 2023, Detectives executed a search warrant at a private residence in St. Catharines and seized numerous devices capable of storing electronic data. The seized devices were subsequently examined, and numerous images and videos of Child Sexual Abuse Material were discovered.
On December 18th 2023 ICE Unit Detectives returned to the private residence and arrested Paul NGUYEN-BROWN (29-years-old) who is now facing the following charges:
2 Counts of Possessing Child Pornography 1 Count of Accessing Child Pornography
Paul NGUYEN-BROWN was held in custody after his arrest and is set to appear for a bail hearing on December 19th, 2023 at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street, in the City of St. Catharines.
Online platforms that allow like-minded users to create, share and store Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) are prevalent on the Internet. Offenders who try and hide their illegal CSAM collections behind an anonymous account in the “cloud” 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 #23-94647