Tyler Dwayne Waddle, Child Pornography Transport, FL 2023

TAMPA, FL – Tyler Dwayne Waddle, 35, of Tampa, will spend nearly two decades behind bars after being sentenced today to 19 years and 7 months in federal prison for transporting child pornography. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington handed down the sentence, along with an order for Waddle to forfeit an iPod Touch used in the commission of his crimes.

The sentence follows Waddle’s guilty plea on January 31, 2017. Court records reveal that Waddle was caught red-handed in May 2016, transporting the vile material to undercover agents. A forensic examination of his iPod Touch uncovered a sickening hoard: approximately 1,900 images of child pornography, including deeply disturbing depictions of prepubescent children subjected to sadistic abuse.

“Today this predator is being held accountable for his deviant crimes,” stated Susan L. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Tampa. But McCormick rightly emphasized the lasting trauma inflicted upon the victims. “What we’d like everyone to remember is the victims of these horrendous crimes will be affected for their entire lifetime.” These aren’t victimless crimes; they leave scars that never heal.

The investigation was spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney Gregory T. Nolan skillfully prosecuted the case, ensuring Waddle faced the full weight of the law. The evidence presented painted a clear picture of a depraved individual actively seeking and distributing this horrific content.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to aggressively combat the escalating epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to identify, apprehend, and prosecute perpetrators and to rescue the vulnerable victims. Resources and information on Project Safe Childhood can be found at www.justice.gov/psc.

Waddle’s actions represent a betrayal of the most vulnerable members of society. This sentencing serves as a stark warning: those who prey on children will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on efforts to dismantle networks involved in child exploitation.