Arrest in Livestream Child Exploitation

A joint investigation by the Toronto Police Service (TPS), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and international law enforcement partners resulted in the rescue of four children in the Philippines and a Hamilton man facing a total of 136 criminal charges related to the alleged purchase and direction of livestream child sexual abuse.

At a news conference at police headquarters on July 15, Toronto Sex Crimes Unit Inspector Keri Fernandes said the investigation, led by the TPS’s Internet Child Exploitation Unit in partnership with the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre (NCECC), began in April 2025 after intelligence was developed through an RCMP-led livestream child sexual abuse enforcement initiative.

“Working with our partners at the Child Rescue Coalition, Homeland Security Investigations, FINTRAC, the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation and Netherlands Police, investigators identified a Canadian suspect who was allegedly paying for and directing the livestream sexual abuse of children in the Philippines,” she said. “As the investigation unfolded in Canada and the Philippines, authorities in the Philippines conducted a rescue operation that led to the rescue of four children.”

On March 25, 2026, Toronto Police investigators executed a search warrant at a residence in Hamilton, arresting 42-year-old Stephen Tolys on child sexual exploitation charges. Following an extensive review of digital evidence and additional investigative leads, police laid 130 more charges, bringing the total number of charges against the accused to 136.

“These additional charges speak to the scale of the alleged offences and our commitment to following every lead and holding offenders accountable,” Fernandes said.

She noted that investigators are concerned there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward and announced that police are releasing several online usernames allegedly used by the accused across various social media platforms.

Tolys is alleged to have used these usernames online.

• Tupac101
• Steve101
• Steve-o
• Jumpinjacks666
• Mighty
• Mightymann66

Police are concerned there may be more victims and would like to speak with anyone who has been communicating with Tolys utilizing any of the usernames listed above. Anyone with information about this investigation or Tolys is asked to contact police at 416-808-8500.

Fernandes praised the dedication of investigators and acknowledged the vital role played by domestic and international partners.

“This investigation, and ultimately the rescue of four vulnerable children, would not have been possible without the support of our many policing and law enforcement partners,” she said. “Child sexual exploitation doesn't stop at borders, and neither can our investigations. Cases like this depend on strong partnerships and information-sharing between agencies around the world. Today's announcement shows what we can accomplish when we do.”

Corporal Philippe Gravel of the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre said the case demonstrates how international cooperation and technology are helping law enforcement identify offenders, regardless of where they operate.

Gravel explained that livestream child sexual abuse involves facilitators, often trusted individuals or family members, who profit by charging customers around the world to watch, request or direct the abuse of children in real time.

“What we're talking about is not a victimless crime.,” he pointed out. “It is the repeated sexual abuse of children for profit. In many cases, it has been described as 'child rape by proxy’.”

The investigation was advanced through an intensive international enforcement initiative, known as a ‘sprint’, organized by the RCMP's Transnational Child Sexual Offender Unit in April 2025. Toronto Police led one of the targeted investigations, ultimately identifying the accused and working with international partners to rescue the children.

Gravel noted that since 2022, the RCMP's liaison officer in Manila has worked closely with law enforcement partners across the Indo-Pacific region to identify offenders, rescue victims and disrupt criminal networks involved in transnational child sexual exploitation.

He said the RCMP's National Child Exploitation Crime Centre, Canada's central point of contact for investigations involving Canadian victims or offenders, received more than 103,000 reports and complaints of suspected online child sexual exploitation during 2024-2025.

“Each one of these investigations is about protecting children and holding offenders accountable,” Gravel said. “Success depends on strong partnerships and real-time cooperation between agencies around the world.”

He commended the Toronto Police Service and its investigative partners for their outstanding work in protecting children and bringing offenders to justice, while warning those involved in online child sexual exploitation that law enforcement will identify them and hold them accountable.