Elementary School Teacher Charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography

DETROIT – An elementary school teacher has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of sexual exploitation of children and distribution and possession of child pornography, announced Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., United States Attorney of the Eastern District of Michigan.   

Gorgon was joined in the announcement by acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz, Homeland Security Investigations, Detroit Division (HSI).

Charged was Martin Daryl Waskowski, 38, of Royal Oak.

According to court records, on December 3, 2025, Waskowski was traveling from Canada back to the United States when he was stopped by Customs and Border Protection inspections at a border crossing in Vermont. Waskowski’s digital devices, including a cell phone and a laptop, were reviewed by HSI agents and found to contain suspected child pornography. A subsequent search warrant was executed at Waskowski’s home in Royal Oak, Michigan where numerous electronic items were seized by law enforcement which contained numerous files of child pornography, including very young children being sexually assaulted by adults. Further investigation revealed that Waskowski had allegedly attempted to produce child pornography by video-recording via spy camera a minor victim in a restroom.

Waskowski is also facing federal charges for child exploitation offenses in Vermont.  He is currently in custody awaiting a detention hearing set for December 22 in federal court in Detroit.

“These alleged crimes are disgusting,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon. “It is a parent’s worst nightmare to have a predator teaching our children. I am thankful for the men and women who find and prosecute these evil people.”

“HSI will continue to prioritize the safety and security of children in our communities especially when offenders occupy positions of public trust,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stentz. “This investigation was only made possible through cooperation and collaboration with agents from HSI Burlington and officers from Customs and Border Protection. We encourage anyone with additional information on this case to please to contact investigators at the tipline below.”

If you have any information that may be relevant to this investigation, please contact

HSI-Waskowski-Investigation@hsi.dhs.gov

The Homeland Security Investigations Detroit and Burlington offices investigated this case with significant assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  The defendant is presumed innocent.  The burden is on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.