Grosse Ile Physician Assistant Arrested on Federal Child Pornography Charges
Prosecutors say alleged Google Drive uploads and hundreds of images recovered from a seized phone point to interstate distribution that broadens the federal probe.
Overview
- Michael Wendt, 38, was arrested and federally charged with receipt and interstate transport of child pornography after authorities say they detected uploads to a Google Drive account.
- Federal agents executed a search warrant, seized Wendt’s phone and computer, and a forensic review reportedly found several hundred images of child sexual abuse material including assaults of infants and toddlers.
- Investigators say browser tabs and screenshots on the device linked the account activity to child pornography websites and matched files flagged by Google to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
- The FBI confirmed Wendt worked as a physician assistant in Detroit-area urgent care clinics and said it currently has no information indicating any patients were victimized, while the investigation continues.
- Authorities have launched a public FBI tip portal to gather information from the community, and federal officials say the use of cloud storage and interstate transfer triggered federal jurisdiction and wider investigative reach.