Photo Credit: CHAT File Photo

By Regan Tate

Coalhurst man among 8 people charged with child sexual exploitation

Jun 28, 2023 | 9:30 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB–8 people have been arrested over the past three months following an ALERT investigation into child sexual exploitation.

Operation ICE Storm 5 launched in April and focused on high-level targets that were sharing and distributing vast collections of child sexual exploitation materials via peer-to-peer file sharing networks.

The investigation prioritized suspects with the largest collections and some of the most graphic content. To date, nearly one million child sexual exploitation photos and videos have been identified. More than 35 computers and electronic devices were seized resulting in terabytes of data for forensics technicians to analyze.

At this point of the investigation, ICE investigators do not believe any of the victims are from Alberta, or that any hands-on offences had taken place.

The eight suspects were arrested and each face charges of possession of child pornography, access child pornography, and make available child pornography:

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• Claudio Foglia, 60, of Calgary;
• Warren Flemming, 40, of Calgary;
• Craig Drumgold, 49, of Calgary;
• Tyler Sartison, 54, of Calgary;
• Derek Eichele, 59, of Calgary;
• Chris Jenkins, 31 of Coalhurst, Alta.;
• Thomas Weatherhead, 51, of Calgary;
• Jesse Carlson-Lepage, 35, of Calgary;

Operation ICE Storm 5 relied on the assistance of a number of police agencies, including: Calgary Police Service, Lethbridge Police Service, Medicine Hat Police Service, Canmore RCMP, and Coalhurst RCMP.