Niagara police have laid more charges against a 50-year-old Toronto man following a child exploitation investigation spanning nearly a year. The investigation, led by Niagara’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE), began in March 2025 as a “proactive undercover” probe into a suspect allegedly using the internet to connect with children for a sexual purpose. In February 2026, the unit partnered with the Peel Regional Police Internet Child Exploitation Unit after determining the same suspect was continuing to use online platforms to meet children for a sexual purpose. On Feb. 24, police arrested and charged 50-year-old Joseph Michael Mortillaro, of Toronto. He was charged with two counts of luring a child via telecommunication to facilitate sexual interference and one count of harassing communications. In an update on Monday, Niagara police said they laid additional charges against Mortillaro after detectives conducted a “forensic extraction” of devices seized during his initial arrest. He now faces an additional charge each of possession of child sexual abuse and exploitation material, making child sexual abuse and exploitation material available, and making written child sexual abuse and exploitation material. He is being held in custody pending a bail hearing on Tuesday. Police allege Mortillaro used the usernames “DadOfTwo,” “Mike,” and “micjoseph” on online platforms to commit the offences. Anyone with further information is asked to contact police. With files from CTV News Toronto and CP24’s Jermaine Wilson
