Walter Zachary Treat, a Tulsa resident, was sentenced on Mar. 9 to 135 months in prison for receipt and distribution of child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. Treat, age 31, will also serve ten years of supervised release after his prison term and must register as a sex offender.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address the exploitation of children online. Upon his release, Treat is prohibited from viewing sexually explicit materials and has been ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
The investigation began in 2022 when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a tip from Kik about a user sharing videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Tulsa County deputies traced the activity to Treat and executed a search warrant at his home, seizing several electronic devices. During questioning, Treat admitted to receiving and distributing images and videos involving child sexual abuse.
A review of Treat’s devices uncovered 18 videos and more than 60 images showing prepubescent children being abused. Investigators also found messages on Facebook where Treat discussed plans to lure children into bathrooms for sexual assault. The material was submitted to the National Child Victim Identification System managed by NCMEC; twenty-three victims were identified and given an opportunity to submit impact statements.
Treat has been detained since November 2025 and will remain in custody until he is transferred to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation through coordinated federal, state, local, and tribal resources.
