I would never, ever go after any child. That's disgusting, especially with my little girl in there. There's no way. >> These files are in your account and these are children. >> I never wanted anybody to get hurt or anything. I just wanted to find some different excitement. I I knew it wasn't right. I just didn't know what it was what it was wrong like this. >> On December [clears throat] 30th, 2022, investigators received multiple cyber tips indicating that a Verizon cloud account was uploading and storing files containing questionable content. As detectives reviewed the tips, they identified repeated uploads traced back to a single user and device. After months of investigation, on October 12th, 2023, authorities executed a search warrant at the home to seize digital evidence and confront the suspect. Hey, how you doing? >> Hey, good. How you doing today? Matthew? Yes, sir. You go by Matt? Yes, sir. And how you doing? Good. How you doing today? My name is Don Wolkey. And this is Wendy. All right. How we doing? Good. Is your wife sleeping or Yeah, she's in And you got you got a little girl, right? >> Yeah. We want to talk to you about some incidents that's happened in in the area and we want to see if you have a little bit of of time. >> Sure. Okay. I don't want to bother your your house, you know, like as far as like waking anybody up. Do you mind if we talk to you in the Tahoe? >> Sure. Okay. >> Sure. Yeah. Go ahead and come on over here. It shouldn't take that long. Okay. We'll have you sit up front here. Okay. Cool. Just okay. You're not in trouble, okay? You're not under arrest. You don't have to talk to us. You're free to go at any time, okay? But there's a there's a few things that we want to talk to you about. Kind of we're kind of like on a fact-finding mission, okay? Just to kind of give you an idea and I I do have to record this just because I have a bad memory and then whatever you tell us, I don't want to I want to make sure that I document it properly, you know, properly. That's all. >> Yes, sir. I'll give you my business card if you need it later or anything like that. Here's my ID if you needed to see it as well. Thank you, sir. Sure. So, kind of give you a brief idea. Before I go into that, is you is this your girlfriend or your wife? >> My wife. Yeah, we're married. Okay. And Okay, her name is Ashley? >> Ashley Sawyer. Okay, she has a transgender name. Okay. And your little girl? Peyton. Yes. And how old is she? She's going to be 2 soon. Okay. So, anybody else lives in the house or anything? You guys have internet here? Yes. Comcast, CenturyLink? Verizon. Oh, Verizon. Okay. Do you I take it you have Verizon phones? Yes, sir. What kind of um Apple, Androids? Androids for both of you? Yes, sir. Okay. So, I kind of give you a brief idea cuz I'm kind of like one of those straight shooters. I don't like wasting time. I don't like beating around the bush. I I just kind of go straight to why we're here, okay? Little bit complicated for me. I work for the sheriff's office, okay? However, I'm loaned out to the FBI. Okay. Okay? So, I go to work every day down in Fort Myers. We have an FBI office. He's major crimes, okay? So, he kind of deals with a lot of different things. Um homicides, robberies, investigations, the whole nine yards. I have a primary focus. Do you know what that primary focus might be? No, sir. My primary focus is child What do you think child means to you? I'm not sure. Child is basically ex-children. Okay. Child is one of them. Mhm. Okay? We know that there's some activity going on here um because I've got numerous tips. Okay. Okay? And we want to make sure that if this is something that you're doing in the privacy of your own home, Mhm. then that's one thing versus you going out in parks. And I And I'm not trying to insult you. Oh, absolutely. Yes, sir. Oh, absolutely. >> You know what I'm saying? Yes, sir. Is this something that you're doing in the privacy of your of your own home versus you going out looking for kids on the streets? >> Oh, my god, never. No. No, I would never do that. So, this is just something that you're doing in the privacy of your own own home? I'm not even looking at anything. All I'm doing is going on to a website called Omegle or something like that. That's all that I really do. I don't I don't look for children or anything like that. But everything that's being reported because all of your content is being uploaded into the Verizon cloud, they reported numerous files of child child So, that's why we're here is to kind of talk about it and to see if this I mean Omegle, I can tell you right now because I've been doing this for 7 years now, Omegle is a hot site for child I can tell you that right now. I I know for a fact that that it's been on there and stuff like that, but I don't I don't do that any kind of stuff. I would never ever go after any child. That's disgusting. Especially with my little girl in there. There's no way. >> Would you allow me to look through your phone? I don't have any reason for you to look through my phone. I don't have my phone on me. But no, I'm sorry. I I I don't do any of that stuff. Okay. So, this is where we need [clears throat] to really be truthful. And I can pull out different things. Can you hand me my my laptop? >> Yes, sir. So far I have four tips from you, okay? I I will tell you that right now. >> Okay. This right here and I really don't want to sit here and have to show you is that where it says MP4, in that tip alone, that's how many videos of child was uploaded into the cloud. Does that make sense? This is the second one. You have to see that. Sorry. But it is what it is because it's it's in your account. These files are in your account and these are children. We've already confirmed you just told me that your that your telephone number, right? Yes, sir. And these are files that are being uploaded into Verizon Cloud and then there's your name. We know that it's you. There's no if, ands, or buts. It's there. And that that's only one tip out of four. I mean and I can go through each tip. I mean that's eight minus the PDF, so that's seven in that one. In this tip, there's three more and the tip number four, which is my newest, you had one. So, that's how many is being uploaded into the cloud. And again, if this is something that you're doing here and nothing else, then so be it. We just need to talk about it, you know? We need to make sure that, you know, when I go back to the office and my supervisor says, "Okay, you know, how was it? How did it go?" You know, I can say, "Hey, you know, he was truthful with me. He stumbled across it. It was an accident." Whatever it might be. But if you don't talk to me and be honest with me, I can only assume that this what is on your phone is going to be on your phone is going to be consistent with what I have right now. I've been doing this way way too long, okay? If this is something that, you know, we we call it we kind of like falling down a rabbit hole, you know, like people just cannot believe that child even exist. And then they open it and they see it and they're like and then they say I can't believe this is really out there. I won't you know, there's no way. And then they look at it more and then they look at it more and then you're like and then, you know, it that's one thing. If it's another thing where it's like, you know, I've had people say, "Hey, you know what? I do. I I like it. I'm to it, you know, it's something that turns me on. It's the only thing that turns me on." Then that's one, you know, we don't know where where you stand. But without you sitting there saying it's not me, it's not me, I don't know what you're talking about. Doing it way too long. >> No, I I I completely understand. Um so, I will be honest with you. I I was on that Omegle site for quite some time because my wife and I after the baby, we didn't communicate well or do anything, you know. >> get it, dude. I got I have I have three boys. I know exactly what you're talking about. I got twin boys and I swear to God our relationship was nothing more than brushing up against the shoulders. I get it, dude. I'm serious. I didn't mean to cut you off, but I know I can feel you. Having children is cool and everything, but it definitely takes a toll on a marriage and a relationship. I never wanted anybody to get hurt or anything. I just wanted to find some different excitement and that was the site that I found excitement on and there's no other intention behind that. So, you're not out there looking for kids. It's just something that I would just I would just and my I I guess it went to Verizon because I would I I'd like to watch it again and I'd do what's called a screen record and I would record anything when I was on the Omegle and it would just download automatically, I assume. And I I never even know they're on my cloud. I I'm sure they're on there now. I just would have to delete everything, but I I never would go out and and hurt anybody. I would never go out and look for anybody. Again, I would I can't say that. I would hurt somebody if they ever tried to do anything to my daughter. So, I Right. I There's There was no ill Right. And And that's why we're talking to you out here versus inside your home. You know what I'm saying? We're trying to be respectful on you and trying to be, you know, I'm not I'm not saying this is not your wife's business. You're an adult. We're having a conversation with you. You get where I'm coming from? Yes. We're not here sitting at your kitchen table so your wife knows that maybe at some point you stumble down a hole. That's why we're trying to respect, you know, not going in there where she's like, "What the hell is going on?" You get it? I appreciate that. I would only assume that because you're saying that when having a kid, it, like I said, I can I can relate to you. Do you to these images that means that why it it excites you? You wanted something that kind of just >> Sir, to be honest, well, yes, that's why I'm on the Omegle, but it's not for the kids. It's honestly any woman that pops up on there that's real that wants to talk to me and stuff like that. Right. That's That's really where it gets exciting is just having somebody want to interact with you again. Mhm. So, how many How many files do you have on your phone? I don't know. Okay. I I'm not sure. It's every It's every time I do it. >> Oh, got you. I I don't I just screen record or whatever. So, how often does your phone kind of get sucked up into the cloud? Do you Do you force Do you have to force do it or does it just automatically No, it automatically does it. Automatically? Yeah. I I got an Apple, but I don't I don't, you know, >> use any of my I'm not Honestly, I'm not good with tech technology. My phone's all we have. I don't computer. Right. Well, we do have a computer. We don't use it. It doesn't really work. It has our wedding pictures on there and that's about it. Got you. And how long How long do you feel like you've been doing this? Since she was pregnant. Okay. So, for a couple years? Yes, sir. I know it sucks, but we do appreciate you talking to us. What do you do for a living? I'm a park ranger. Oh, really? And then your wife? She's a vet tech. Got you. Is there any other sites that you that you go to or is Omegle your your go-to site? >> That's all I use, sir. I don't really I don't know what else to say. I have I apologize. It's You're right. I just I fell down that rabbit hole and I I just I liked it. I liked the attention. I didn't I'm sorry. I feel so stupid. Does your wife leave today or is she home tonight? >> I took off today to be with her. Um I got to go away for a training for a week next next this Sunday. Have you had this phone the whole entire time? That's a yes? Yes, all right. Sorry, I'm just in shock. I'm And there's nothing that we should be concerned about of we call them live victims. You know, live live kids. This is always something that No, it's never been anything more than a computer. Never. Ever. No, and then there's no intention of it ever It was never going to be more than a computer. All right. Like I said, if especially with my daughter, I I I would never want somebody to do anything with my daughter. So, I I would never do that. Not that I won't eat of you these, okay? I don't I don't do that to people, okay? But, what's the youngest that you look? I mean, I can sit here and pull it up just to kind of to To be 100% honest with you, I I don't know. I I really don't know what what they are. But, we can't say that they're under 18. I mean, cuz cuz that that's would be a safe to say, right? >> Some sometimes, yes, sir. I mean, cuz that's the only reason that they give them to me. It's not They don't give me this stuff to say, "Hey, I think it is." Or it it could be. It's like, "Hey, because it's it's all this technical but it's like a it's like a fingerprint to an image or a file and like these are already known child files that are circulating every second of the day. It's sick. I mean, it it is. >> I know. I understand. They get played on Omegle all the time and Trust me, dude. I get I get slammed every day. I have Facebook. I have Twitter. You know, I have all these different platforms. >> stuff. No, I'm just saying people people share this stuff. I mean, if if you don't think it's shareable on a platform, it is. I mean, it's it's I don't know how they do it, but you know, when you think that, "Oh, this one should be safe." Next thing you know, I get a tip and I'm like, "I've never heard of this before." You know, it's it's crazy. People find a way, unfortunately. But, Omegle is definitely a top one to It never started that way, obviously. It just You're on there again, sometimes you don't even know what what it is or how old or whatever, you know, and Right. >> I guess there is people that share those videos, and no, I don't always turn away or click the next person on there. Yeah. Lindsey, would you have anything? >> Yeah, I do have a just a couple follow-up questions, right? So, obviously the the videos that he's talking about, the the known ones that were being shared, right? Omegle is also live contact, right? So, not like in person, but I can FaceTime essentially with one person, right? You have that option there as well. Where Where is that? >> like a a live conversation between two people, right? >> I go on there, yes. >> Right. Do you ever have those live conversations with the girls that are under 18, or are you just conversating with other people that are sharing those videos? >> really have much conversation. It's just a lot of I'm embarrassed to say it, it's just a lot of let's just finish this. Yes, sir. Yeah. It is what it is, we're I I We're all adults here, right? Here in this room. I just now feel >> And it's always with the pre-recorded videos in these instances, or Most of the time, that's no. It It's the pre-recorded videos are on there quite quite often. Um, but it they like I was saying earlier, it's any woman really that would give me any attention. That was primarily why I was seeking that site in in general. [clears throat] I just I just wanted somebody to interact with me, and nine times out of 10, nobody said age or anything like that, and it was just, "Hey, let's again, let's just finish this, you know." Where's your cell phone at right now? It's in my house. Where in the house? >> bedroom. In the bedroom? >> Yes, sir. Okay. What kind of cell phone was it? That's where your wife is? Yes. Okay. I'm honest. I mean, I I You know, if you have questions, I'm going to give you an honest answer, okay? We do have a search warrant. You know, we didn't want to execute it. We wanted to say, "You know what? Let's talk to you out here, you know, let's not >> Okay. You know what I'm saying? So, I just got to give you my phone? Well, you said [clears throat] you don't have a computer, right? Well, I I do have a computer. I can give you that, too. There's There's I've never used anything other than my >> Okay. What kind of computer? Uh an Asus So just a typical Windows operating system? >> Yeah, like a laptop. >> Any thumb drives? Anything that you you you've never transferred anything over >> No, I I I would never do. No, everything is everything that I did was always on my phone and only on my phone. I never did anything else, never used anything else. Again, I never thought that I was doing I I knew it wasn't right. I just didn't know it was it was wrong like this. So I I I never I would say you would you would know that it would be illegal though, right? >> What what what You know, not under age children. Yes. Okay. I'm just I'm just asking. >> No, I I know I The laptop, is it work related? A little bit of both? Or is it just for work? >> nothing. We don't we really don't use it. Like I said, it has our wedding pictures on there. We use it every every so often maybe print something out, but >> Does she use it? Or is it does it is it kind of not even I mean once in again once in a while. We really don't use it. Okay. I don't like taking things to keep, you know, to make your life difficult. I know the phone is a huge cuz I mean we live with our phones 24/7. >> Yes, sir. But I I don't have any way not to take it. You know what I'm saying? I I guess I should go ahead and take the laptop, but I will clear that like immediately and I can I I know you're going to be without a phone, but is there another way that I can contact you to say, "Hey, look, it's clear. I'd like to give this back to you." cuz we don't like holding on to property. I'll tell you now it's a pain in the because it's just I I'd rather give you stuff I don't other than my wife's phone, I don't have any other communication. And she she's going out for a couple different things today. What's going on? I I just want to know what's going on cuz like I said, I'm I'm just freaking out a little bit cuz Right. So what will happen is we we will have to take the phone. We will have to do a forensic examination on it to see what's on it. You know, do we have more than what, you know, we have here? Is it something, you know, like again, you're telling me nothing live? We got to confirm that. You know, we want to you know, kind of check all the boxes. >> does that mean? No Like like like you haven't, you know, touched your daughter. You haven't touched somebody out in out here. >> Never. No. You know what I'm saying? Nothing that's being self-produced. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> when all of that is done, then we present that to the state attorney's office and say, "Hey, take a look at this." And then they kind of give us what they think that should should happen. Okay. And and I can I I'm not I can't tell you what's going to happen. No, I understand. It could be I don't know. It could be an arrest. It could be something different. I really don't know at the moment. It's not until we get that back and say, "Okay, let's let's examine this phone. Let's see what's on it. You know, how many are we talking about? You know, are we talking about, you know, hundreds? Are we talking about, you know, 50?" You know, I I don't know what that answer is, you know. Mhm. That's where we're at. It's It's hard to give you a definite answer. I just want to know what's going on today, then. So, so I'm just I'm just really really freaking out right now. We take the phone and we take the laptop. I give you a property receipt. I tell you to have a nice day. Okay. And but we want to be in communication with you. >> What happens with like my my job and all that stuff? Go to work. We're not going to call them. Yeah, we're not >> No, no. I This is not going to be You're not going to be worried about So, I'm watching the news tonight and one day I'm just going to get arrested. I'm going to communicate with you any kind of updates. I don't know that answer. That's what I'm saying. I I understand. I just just wasn't I never I just got to be a man and own up to it. I'm I'm I I made a mistake. Right. And at this point, that's all you can do. You know, if this is something that you have an issue with, maybe see if you can talk to somebody, you know. >> I think so. Yeah. I think so. I don't know what's going to happen in there. I'm sure your wife is going to be like, "Who are you talking to? Or where's your phone?" She's going to have a lot of questions and that's going to be up to you to say I'm just going to be honest. I I can't do this. Say you're out. Stop, you know. But I can definitely look you both in the eyes and tell you I would never never do this any child. I I would I swear on everything I would never And that's ultimately what >> means nothing, but No, it absolutely It does, you know. And if if you need to take it easy on the approach, I'm not telling you what to do. If you need to say, "Yeah, they were here to talk to me about something." You know, whatever You know, I'm I don't know cuz I don't know what the outcome is ultimately going to be, but if you you know, it's whether you face the music now or face the music later. There might be something where, you know, is it best to tell her? It looks like she's Somebody's at the window, so Maybe her Yeah, it's high up though, so but that's that's not our decision. That's just something that you're going to have to figure out. I'm the type of person, that's why I gave you my card. I'm going to put my cell phone number on it for you, okay? I don't I know that doesn't do good for you right this second without a phone, but I want you to call me, okay? If you if there's something that you're like, I forgot to ask you or where does this stand? I have an open communication, okay? [clears throat] I really do. I'm not here to destroy you. I'm not, you know, we're here because I got the tip. We have to look into it and we want to make sure that everybody is safe. Is there anything else that you want to answers? Do you have questions? Do you have Do you want to know anything? Like I said, I I'm fine with answering them for you. Now, you told me you really can't answer what happens next, so Yeah, it's kind of an open end, but you you call me, I can tell you, you know, as things go on. Um, my first goal is to to get that computer cleared so I can just give it back to you. So I don't have to keep it in inventory, you know, so I don't have to mess with it. We just kind of like go through it and then give it back, you know? Do you have to wipe the files in there cuz that's the only place we have our wedding No, it won't be wiped at all. Cuz that's the only spot No, it won't That I would want to transfer to a thumb drive real quick cuz Yeah, no, it won't be wiped. Your your phone, password protected? Yes. And what would that pass Is it Is it a fingerprint? Is it a password? >> it's password. It's It's uh the files and I know you said that you're not really computer tech savvy. You know, not None of those files are like Is any like in a hidden folder, you I have a hidden folder there of my wife. Okay. It's It's just my wife. It's in a locked folder. It's all of my wife over the last 8 years. That's That's That's what that is. >> Okay. Is that password protected? I If it is, it's the same password. I I think it is, but yeah, if it is, it's the same password. So, no no special apps that look like, you know, I've seen some that's a calculator, and then actually when you hit the calculator, it's really a a folder, you No, I I truly don't know how to do any of that stuff. No. I didn't even know that it was being uploaded to the cloud, so. Is there anything on the phone that we're going to find that we haven't talked about today? Anything else that you think we should know about now rather than finding out later? No, honestly, that's that's everything that I I do on there. Like I said, I've saved every every single one from on there, so there's probably a lot of files on my phone from there. Okay. Do you ever share those files with anybody else? >> No. No, I'm too embarrassed to do that. I would never do that. Yeah, we could I forgot to ask that cuz a lot of people will have like a so-called collection, and they're like, "Hey, I'll I'll share mine if you share yours." type thing. >> No, never. Like I said, I'm I'm I'm too embarrassed to even know that that I was even on that site, let alone what I was doing. I mean, like I said, I was just looking for more attention, honestly, and found a lot more than attention, you know? Do you share a cloud with your wife with your phone plan? May maybe. I don't know. We we have the same phone plan, so may maybe. Okay. I I I don't know. Well, somehow, you know, with those tips coming in cuz that that's your number lit or ending in a 51, right? >> Yes, sir. >> So, it's kind of like maybe Mhm. Just making sure she's not going to see it by mistake or something like that. Yeah. I don't know. Again, I didn't even know it was going to the cloud, so. Thank you for being honest with me. I appreciate it. I'm I'm so sorry that I even It's fine. No, I I know it has nothing Just a mistake with you guys, but Just a mistake. >> On a scale of 1 to 10, how's our treatment? We usually ask people cuz we we we kind of put ourselves higher than everybody, and we want to make sure that we treat everybody with respect. I don't know how much to compare it to. You don't get questioned by police too often. 10. I appreciate that. So, if that was your wife, and I don't want it to be a scene, but I unfortunately, I can't have you just go in there and get the phone. One of us will have to kind of like follow you. I would hate for you and I'm not I'm not doubting you. I'm not I don't want to No, I I understand. You got to do your job. It's kind of like when somebody ruins it for everybody. You know, it's one of those things. You know, if if we just say go get the phone and then we never see you again. Now now we're in a whole different predicament. You know, what I'm saying? Do you have any firearms near the phone? Near the phone, no. Okay. No. Just want to make sure. >> on my dresser, so no. Okay. I don't know any of my my contacts, but can I write them down tonight? If you can bring it out here so we can watch you, I I have no problem get you know, letting you bring it out. Phone and a paper or something. You can jot some stuff down, but unfortunately it will have to be in front of us just so we know that nothing's going on. Got it. But yeah, get your boss's number, things like that, right? >> Okay. I will say one one other thing. Um on there, cuz I just want to make sure I never so you know, people always say, "Hey, contact me." They'll give me a I don't even have Instagram, but an Instagram name, a phone number, or stuff. They're email. You can even try I never contact them. I have never done anything with that. Again, it says it I I cuz a lot a lot of them say it on there. I just just so you're aware, there's I've never contacted them on there. Again, I their numbers and stuff are saved on the images, but I I never ever ever contacted anybody, not once. And again, never planned on it. So I just wanted to make sure that was that was clear, too. Okay. Again, there was never any intention of anything other than the internet. Okay. So, do you mind um Is it unlocked? It's on. Can we see the front? Do you know what what phone this is? Is it a what kind It's an Android. Android what? Galaxy 22. According to the forensic examination, more than 1,000 videos containing questionable content were identified on his phone. An arrest warrant was issued and authorities returned to execute it the following day. Hey, not here? Ma'am, I'm sorry. That's okay. Come over here for us. Yes. How are you doing, bud? I'm doing okay. Sergeant Ryan White, Charlotte County Sheriff's Office. >> Yes, sir. You have anything on you, any No, don't don't go reach for >> No, no, I'm not. I'm just saying no, sir. Walk out of the house. All right, go ahead and just put your hands on the car real quick. I'm just going to pat you down for a while. >> Okay. 30 ft. Yes, sir. I assume you know what this is all about? Yes, sir. It's 30 ft for me, please. A little further. >> Sorry. Don't worry about it. Come here. All right, go ahead and put your hands behind your back. Yes, sir. All right, you don't have anything on you illegal that I haven't found, correct? >> No, sir. I have nothing on me. Can I Can I get the bottom of my wife's phone? Uh you really want your kid to see you? You tell me. Your call. All right, he's going to check you one more time for uh anything else, but nothing on you, right? >> No, sir. I have nothing >> Nothing hidden on you? No, I got nothing. You want me to go and knock on the door? What do you want me to do about that? Please, sir. I'm going to go in there. You want your kid out here? How old is your kid? Two Almost two. Okay. Go over on the other side of the car with him. What's your wife's name? Ashley. Sorry. He wants to talk to you real quick. >> [clears throat] >> Can I hold the baby out here, please? She's your wife. I mean, do you really want to bring the kid out like this? Three cops standing by with him in handcuffs? Sir, I need to see her. Your call, man. Your kid. >> Can you please But grab him some flip flops or something easy to put on. Hi, baby. Can you kiss? I'm going to hug you in a minute. Call >> to know anything? Uh we don't know anything. He's going to the Charlotte County Jail. Uh give the jail call a couple hours. I have no idea what they're doing as far as bond or anything like that. Okay. All right. Thank you. Yeah. All right, ma'am, just so you know, look take a look in the car. There's no or anything back there. Okay. You don't have anything on you. If anything appears back there, I understand. I have Fair warning. Yes, sir. You bring anything to the jail, it's an additional charge and introduction. >> I've got I've got nothing on me. Okay. The man was arrested and charged with the following.