Toronto Man arrested for Internet Luring Offences

In March 2025, Detectives with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Internet Child Exploitation Unit (ICE Unit) began a proactive undercover investigation into a person who used the Internet to connect and meet with children for a sexual purpose.

In February 2026, the Niagara Regional Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit and Peel Regional Police Service (PRPS) Internet Child Exploitation Unit initiated a joint investigation into the same male suspect who continued to use the Internet to meet with children for a sexual purpose.

On February 24, 2026, Detectives from Niagara Regional Police Service ICE Unit identified and arrested Joseph Michael MORTILLARO (50 years) of Toronto for the following offences:

• Luring a Child via Telecommunication to Facilitate Sexual Interference (2 Counts)
• Harassing Communications

MORTILLARO remains in custody and is scheduled to attend a bail hearing February 25, 2026, at the Robert S.K. Welch Courthouse, located at 59 Church Street in St. Catharines.

Detectives believe that MORTILLARO went by the usernames “DadOfTwo” and “Mike” on online platforms to commit offences against children.

Online platforms that allow like-minded users to engage with minors, create, share and store Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) are prevalent on the Internet.  Offenders who attempt to lure children behind anonymous accounts on different platforms 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 #25-25561