A controversial American YouTuber is confronting the prospect of more than three decades in a Brazilian prison following his arrest on serious charges of child sexual exploitation.
From 'Copwatcher' to 'Sex Tourist': The Wallace Case
Floyd Wallace Jr, a 30-year-old US national, was detained by police in a hotel room in central São Paulo this week. The arrest, captured on video, shows officers using pepper spray before handcuffing Wallace face-down on the floor. A policewoman informed him in English that he was being arrested for child sexual exploitation by Rio de Janeiro's authorities.
Wallace first gained online notoriety in the United States through a YouTube channel named Omaha Copwatch. He presented himself as a 'constitutional auditor,' filming confrontations with police officers under the banner of testing their understanding of citizens' rights. This activity led to a lengthy criminal record across more than 13 US states, including arrests for assaulting officers, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.
Uber Driver's Alert Uncovers Alleged Exploitation Network
The investigation began after an Uber driver reported a suspicious ride on December 5. A foreign man using the alias 'Terry William' had requested transport for two underage girls. During the journey, the girls revealed they did not know the man, who did not speak Portuguese, and were unsure of their destination.
Uber's internal probe revealed the same user had created multiple accounts to repeatedly order rides for minors. The suspect never appeared at pick-up points, instead providing validation codes and issuing instructions remotely. On December 18, another trip was ordered for four girls under 18 from Rio's impoverished North Zone to the city centre, again raising the driver's suspicions.
Police identified the man behind the accounts as Wallace, who had been living in hotels in Rio after several months in Colombia. He had rebranded himself online as a 'professional sex tourist' or 'passport bro,' livestreaming about his experiences. Investigators moved to arrest him in São Paulo, fearing he was preparing to flee the country.
Seized Evidence and Potential International Victims
During the arrest, authorities confiscated a significant haul of electronic equipment and other items. This included:
- Five USB drives and seven memory cards
- A laptop and five mobile phones
- Several SIM cards
- A wristwatch fitted with a hidden camera
- Soft toys and a balaclava-style mask
Police Chief Cristiano Maia, from Brazil's Child and Adolescent Victims Division, stated they have identified 'many victims' and are investigating whether Wallace committed similar crimes in other nations. The contents of his seized phones will be crucial to the ongoing inquiry.
Despite being unemployed, Wallace travelled internationally frequently. Police suspect his trips were financed by third parties via donations and sponsorships on digital platforms, allegedly in exchange for sexually explicit content.
He now faces formal charges of rape of a vulnerable person and facilitating the sexual exploitation of minors. Combined, these charges carry a maximum prison sentence of up to 34 years, with potential for longer terms if aggravating factors are established.
Wallace's past includes a 2022 arrest in Florida where he was Tasered for non-compliance, and a later conviction in Oklahoma for assaulting a police officer. After disappearing for months, he resurfaced with his new 'sex tourist' persona in South America, boasting of his encounters but claiming he avoided filming explicit acts to evade legal trouble.
