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Edmonton… ALERT Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE) has laid 18 additional charges following further investigation into child luring, sexual assault and child pornography offences in the Morinville, Alta. area.
In July, Imesh Ratnayake, 21-years old, was charged in relation to child luring and sexual assault involving six children. He was later released on conditions.
Investigators now have reason to believe there could be upwards of 100 victims.
“The investigation into Mr. Ratnayake has been evolving since his first arrest last summer. ICE Forensic Technicians, our Criminal Analyst and investigators have discovered thousands of videos and images that depict upwards of potentially 100 additional, unidentified victims of child luring and sexual assault. As a result of the ongoing investigation, Mr. Ratnayake was arrested for offences he is alleged to have committed against previously identified children in the Morinville area in the fall of 2021. We want parents in the Edmonton Region to discuss this case with their children to determine if they communicated or met with Mr. Ratnayake,” said Sgt. Kerry Shima, ICE.
On December 9, 2022, Imesh Ratnayake was re-arrested and is now facing an additional 18 charges including sexual assault, making child pornography, and child luring. He has been remanded in custody.
The additional charges against Ratnayake include:
It’s believed Imesh Ratnayake used several Snapchat profiles and may be known to his victims under the user names “islandsauce0129”, “monked.ruffy” or by his pseudonym, Matt Wintoni or “mattwintoni”.
ICE is looking to identify and speak with potential victims and witnesses. Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to call their local police, the Edmonton Police Service or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
The Zebra Centre for Child Protection, Morinville RCMP, K Division GIS, and the Edmonton Police Service assisted in the investigation, which began in June of 2022.
ALERT was established and is funded by the Alberta Government and is a compilation of the province’s most sophisticated law enforcement resources committed to tackling serious and organized crime.
For more information on ways to protect children from online sexual exploitation visit https://alert-ab.ca/public-knowledge/child-exploitation/
The work we do is about our communities, and that’s why we recognize that residents can be instrumental in tackling serious crime. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a crime, or you suspect criminal activity, please reach out. Your information will remain strictly confidential.
Thank you for helping to make Alberta safer by being actively involved and reporting suspicious activity.
