2006 Newfoundland child pornography ring
Two separate but interlocking child pornography and prostitution rings operating out of fast food restaurants in Newfoundland said by police investigators to have abused "dozens" of girls were broken up in 2006. The investigation, named "Operation Rescue", was carried out jointly by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and the Newfoundland Child, Youth and Family Services Department. Newman case Shawn James Newman (32) of Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, was convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison. Newman was charged with having "made, printed, published or possessed child pornography for the purpose of publishing." After a series of appeals, Newman was ordered to report to Her Majesty's Penitentiary on June 20, 2009. That same day, he was found dead at his home of undisclosed causes. Shabak case In a separate case, Mehnad Mahmoud Shablak (32), of St. John's, Newfoundland, a Kuwaiti-Canadian, was charged with making and owning child pornography. Shabak met his victims at the Big Bite Pizza shop. At a trial, Shablak pled guilty to eight counts involving making and owning child pornography, six charges of making child pornography and two counts of owning it. Shablak admitted to paying six girls— who were all between 13 and 16 at the time— with