Police identify 23 more alleged victims of Leduc man accused of luring girls on Snapchat, making child pornography

Authorities say they have identified an additional 23 alleged victims of a Leduc man who is accused of luring Edmonton-area girls between the ages of 12 and 19 on social media before allegedly meeting them in person to perform sex acts.

ALERT’s Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) unit says the 49-year-old man is facing an extra 86 charges since his initial arrest in June, at which point investigators had identified six alleged victims. They believed at the time there could be more victims.

ICE is calling the investigation the largest of its kind in the province’s history.

Police were first notified after a youth counsellor reached out through ALERT’s cybertip line in April.

BACKGROUND: Leduc man accused of luring Edmonton-area girls on Snapchat, making child pornography

The suspect was arrested during a search warrant June 26. Police say several electronic devices were seized, including a smart phone and laptop. That forensic examination, as well as information from the public, led to the identification of 23 more alleged victims.

“I cannot begin to thank these young girls for their bravery in coming forward,” said Staff Sgt. Alison Church with ICE. “Their courage has made a significant difference in this investigation and their information is what has helped keep him detained.”

ICE says there could still be more potential victims. The man may be known to them under the usernames “burkeishere2525,” “devonhouston25,” “keenonhedstrom,” “treyliles2424,” “Koen(Trey)Black,” “Koenblack25,” “Trey_burton2025,” or by his pseudonym Burke.

“Know that we are ready to talk with you, we have resources that you can utilize,” Church said. “Important resources that will help you be able to cope and understand what has happened.”

Campbell Fergusson is facing 113 charges, including 29 counts of luring. He has also been charged with making child pornography, sexual assault and extortion. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court Friday. None of the allegations have been tested in court.

A photo of Fergusson was previously on the Leduc and County Basketball Association (LCBA) website, though it has since been taken down.

Fergusson’s personal Facebook page lists him as a former member of the LCBA.

Police tell CityNews there is no evidence he met alleged victims while in his role coaching youth sports.

Investigators say sex crimes that start with grooming on social media are becoming more common. The technology can help criminals be anonymous while making the gathering of evidence more difficult, especially when companies are based in the United States.

Anyone with information is asked to contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

–With files from Elliott Knopp