U.S. Influencer Arrested in Brazil on Child Exploitation Charges After Driver’s Tip

Overview

• Floyd Wallace Jr., 30, was detained in São Paulo’s Liberdade neighborhood following a Rio-led inquiry into alleged crimes against children.
• The case began when a ride-hail driver reported two girls who used Google Translate and did not know their destination, leading Uber to notify authorities.
• Police seized hidden cameras, a watch with a camera, VR glasses, stuffed animals, several phones, pendrives and memory cards, indicating capacity to record victims.
• The child-victim unit says 8 to 12 children may have been targeted in Rio, and investigators are probing possible intermediaries or a broader criminal network.
• Uber says anti-trafficking training for all drivers will begin early next year and cites a partnership with The Exodus Road Brasil, while police note Wallace’s online channels and prior U.S. convictions.