Tallahassee man sentenced to life in 'Stolen Innocence' child trafficking case

A Tallahassee man involved in what police say was the area's largest child sex-trafficking ring will spend his life in prison after being convicted this week in federal court.

Tyron C. Watson, 39, was convicted by a jury of two counts of sex trafficking of a minor under 14, according to the U.S. District Attorney for the Northern district of Florida Jason Coody.

Watson, who will have to register as a sex offender, was among at least 170 people arrested in Operation Stolen Innocence.

The operation, announced in November 2020, unfolded after investigators dug into the story of a young girl who was allegedly forced by her own mother and others to have sex for money and drugs.

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Watson's sentence is one of the lengthiest leveled in connection with the operation. Law enforcement officials in Tallahassee lauded the work of investigators and said they hoped the stiff sentence will serve as a reminder to those who prey on children.

“This sentence is yet another example of the unwavering commitment to the protection of our most vulnerable, and it should serve as a significant deterrent to those who would attempt to harm them,” Coody said in a statement.

More on Operation Stolen Innocence:

The Tallahassee Police Department was a leading partner in the investigation.

TPD Chief Lawrence Revell said Watson's sentence was an end result of law enforcement's zero-tolerance approach to trafficking.

“We are grateful to see justice prevail for the victim in this case,” Revell said in a statement. “Watson's sentencing is a testament to the judicial system's tireless efforts to hold accountable those who break the law and reiterate to the community that human trafficking will not be tolerated.”

Contact Karl Etters at [email protected] or @KarlEtters on Twitter.