A junior girls' football coach in Lethbridge has been charged with child exploitation offences.
Those charges include the allegation that he used artificial intelligence to make child pornography.
ALERT's Internet Child Exploitation (ICE) arrested 38-year-old Justin Tillery, who is charged with making, distributing, possessing, and accessing child pornography.
Tillery also transmitted an intimate image without consent.
On top of that, Tillerly has allegedly used AI to manipulate and sexualize photos of underage girls.
Tillery is the coach for both the Lethbridge Rams and the Football Alberta U18 women's teams.
ICE is continuing to investigate, and they are currently in the process of attempting to identify possible victims, as a number of computers and electronic devices were seized from Tillery's home and are being analyzed by ICE forensic investigators.
"We can recognize how these allegations will impact athletes, parents, and the football community. We appreciate how there will be a lot of unanswered questions, but our investigation is ongoing, and we are in the process of combing through the evidence to learn more," said Staff Sergeant Mark Auger, ALERT ICE, in a media release.
According to ICE, these images were being shared via the social media app Kik Messenger.
This investigation dates back to November 2024, but Tillery was only recently identified as the suspect.
Tillery has been released from custody on several court-imposed conditions, which include ones that prevent him from coaching anyone under the age of 18.
He is scheduled to appear in court in Lethbridge on August 8, 2025.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact local police or Crime Stoppers (1-800-222-TIPS).