Catfish Cops

Brandon and Tony

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Crímenes reales
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This exciting new podcast delves into the stories of internet predators attempting to lure kids into their sexual traps. Your hosts are two current law enforcement detectives who proactively hunt these predators to bring them to justice, and protect and rescue children. Join them as they discuss the cases and give behind the scenes details that go into catching these heinous offenders.

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Episode 174: THE MAN BEHIND THE SCREEN: A Predator's Dangerous Secret

Feel free to leave us a comment! If you'd like to ask a question, or want a response, please send an email to us at catfishcops5.0@gmail.com! He thought he had found a father willing to share his seven-year-old son. Instead, he found an undercover cop. What began as a disturbing online conversation in Boise, Idaho, quickly developed into a federal child exploitation investigation that would ultimately put Terry Benjamin Ellinger behind bars for 13½ years. Over several months, Ellinger engaged in increasingly disturbing conversations with someone he believed shared his interest in the sexual exploitation of children. But the person on the other end of those messages wasn't who Ellinger thought he was. And every conversation was bringing investigators closer to the man behind the screen. In this episode of CatFish Cops, we take you inside the investigation, from the undercover conversations and digital evidence to Ellinger's identification, arrest, admissions, and eventual federal conviction. What was Ellinger willing to reveal to a complete stranger? How did investigators connect the online conversations to the man behind the keyboard? And what ultimately led to a 162-month federal prison sentence and lifetime supervised release? Join us as we pull back the curtain on another disturbing case that demonstrates the dedication, patience, and determination of the men and women investigating internet crimes against children. He thought anonymity would protect him. He thought he was talking to someone just like himself. He was wrong. This is CatFish Cops — where the predators never know who's really on the other end of the conversation. Support the show
31 oct

Episode 173: The Invictus Project

Feel free to leave us a comment! If you'd like to ask a question, or want a response, please send an email to us at catfishcops5.0@gmail.com! Not on My Watch: Ray Dawson and the Invictus Project What happens when one man's determination to protect children becomes a mission that brings law enforcement agencies and entire communities together? In this episode of the CatFish Cops Podcast, we sit down with Ray Dawson, founder of the Invictus Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and internet crimes against children. A law enforcement veteran and passionate advocate for children, Ray has helped build a unique partnership between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, providing investigators with the resources, technology, and support needed to identify victims, pursue predators, and protect vulnerable children. We discuss the origins of the Invictus Project, the challenges facing investigators on the front lines, the importance of proactive investigations, and why educating parents and communities is just as critical as putting predators behind bars. This episode is about more than arrests and investigations. It's about leadership, collaboration, faith, and the unwavering commitment to protecting children who cannot protect themselves. Because when it comes to child exploitation, standing on the sidelines isn't an option. NOT ON MY WATCH. #CatFishCops #InvictusProject #RayDawson #NotOnMyWatch #ICAC #ProtectOurChildren #LawEnforcement #ChildExploitationPrevention #InternetSafety Support the show
24 sept

Episode 172: Andy Padrutt - If These Dolls Could Talk

Feel free to leave us a comment! If you'd like to ask a question, or want a response, please send an email to us at catfishcops5.0@gmail.com! Some investigations begin with evidence that is only days or weeks old. Others begin with a survivor finding the courage to speak about something that happened years—even decades—before. “If These Dolls Could Talk” is an extraordinary case that demonstrates why a delayed disclosure does not mean the opportunity for justice has passed. The investigation began in 2023 after a now-adult survivor disclosed sexual abuse within her family. What initially appeared to be one case ultimately uncovered allegations spanning generations and dating as far back as 1994. Investigators identified multiple victims and developed cases involving both hands-on offenses and an enormous collection of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) discovered on digital devices. But the digital evidence revealed even more. Investigators uncovered an apparent obsession with a juvenile horseback rider, including evidence of attempts to gain access to her and multiple out-of-town trips to attend competitions where she was participating. Her mother would ultimately become an important witness at trial. Perhaps most remarkable was the evidence that still existed decades later. Handwritten notes and letters sent to girls had been saved by parents for years, providing investigators with physical evidence that helped corroborate events from long before the investigation began. The prosecution ultimately resulted in one offender receiving life without the possibility of parole, while the second received an eight-year sentence through a plea agreement reached with the involvement of the victim's family. At the heart of this episode, however, is a lesson every investigator, prosecutor, and survivor should hear: Delayed disclosure does not mean there is no evidence. And the passage of time does not necessarily eliminate the possibility of accountability. Old letters can still exist. Digital evidence can reveal unexpected connections. Witnesses can still remember. Families may have unknowingly preserved critical pieces of evidence for decades. This episode is about following those pieces wherever they lead—and about what can happen when investigators refuse to assume that “too much time has passed” means “nothing can be done.” If These Dolls Could Talk — a powerful case study in persistence, corroboration, digital forensics, and the pursuit of justice for survivors of child sexual abuse. Support the show
17 sept

Episode 171: The Mission Continues - Part 2

Feel free to leave us a comment! If you'd like to ask a question, or want a response, please send an email to us at catfishcops5.0@gmail.com! How do you measure the impact of a career dedicated to protecting children? Sometimes, it isn't measured in awards, titles, or recognition. It's measured in the children who were found, the offenders who were identified, and the investigators who became better because someone was willing to teach them. In Part Two of our conversation with retired Detective Robert Shilling, former head of Crimes Against Children for INTERPOL, we go deeper into the lessons learned over a career spent confronting some of the most challenging crimes investigators can face. Robert shares his perspective on how the field has evolved, the importance of cooperation between investigators across jurisdictions and international borders, and the responsibility experienced investigators have to pass their knowledge to the next generation. There is also something bigger in this conversation: legacy. Robert Shilling helped pioneer a field that countless investigators continue to advance today. Yet throughout our conversation, his humility is unmistakable. For him, the mission was never about recognition. It was about the children. For those who currently investigate crimes against children—and especially those just beginning that journey—this episode is an opportunity to hear from someone who helped build the road you're now traveling. The technology will change. The investigative techniques will evolve. New challenges will emerge. But the mission remains the same: find them, protect them, and never stop fighting for children who need someone willing to fight for them. Part Two: Robert Shilling — The Mission Continues Support the show
10 sept

Episode 170: A Pioneer in Protecting Children - Part 1

Feel free to leave us a comment! If you'd like to ask a question, or want a response, please send an email to us at catfishcops5.0@gmail.com! There are people who work in a profession, and then there are those who help shape the profession for everyone who follows them. In Part One of this special two-part episode, we sit down with retired Detective Robert Shilling, former head of Crimes Against Children for INTERPOL and a true pioneer in the investigation of crimes against children. Robert’s career placed him on the front lines of some of the most difficult investigations imaginable, during a time when technology was rapidly changing both how offenders operated and how investigators worked to identify them and protect their victims. What struck us most, however, wasn't the résumé or the accomplishments. It was the man behind them. Despite decades of experience and an international reputation in the field, Robert is remarkably humble. He speaks less about what he accomplished and more about the children, investigators, and professionals who motivated the work. In Part One, Robert takes us through his journey—from detective to international child-protection leader—and shares how investigators began confronting crimes that increasingly crossed jurisdictions, borders, and eventually the digital world. This isn't simply a conversation about a career. It's a conversation about the early foundations of a mission that continues today: finding victims, identifying offenders, and protecting children wherever they may be. Part One: Robert Shilling — A Pioneer in Protecting Children Support the show
3 sept

Episode 169: Snaggletooth

Feel free to leave us a comment! If you'd like to ask a question, or want a response, please send an email to us at catfishcops5.0@gmail.com! Some cases stay with you long after the courtroom empties. “Snaggletooth” is one of those cases. In this episode, Hays County Assistant District Attorney Katie Arnold takes us inside the investigation and prosecution of a deeply disturbing case involving a father accused of committing unimaginable acts against a child. But this story isn't about giving notoriety to the person responsible. It's about the people who refused to give up on the children involved. Katie walks us through a difficult case that demanded patience, persistence, and an extraordinary attention to detail. When the path toward justice was anything but simple, her dedication to the case—and to the children at the center of it—never wavered. Behind every piece of evidence was a child who deserved to be heard. Behind every difficult decision were siblings and a family searching for answers and, ultimately, some measure of closure. “Snaggletooth” is a story about the darkest side of human behavior—but more importantly, it's about what can happen when dedicated professionals refuse to stop fighting for a child. Join us as Assistant District Attorney Katie Arnold tells the story of Snaggletooth—a case she fought relentlessly to bring to its conclusion, and one that reminds us why protecting children and pursuing justice on their behalf matters so deeply. Support the show
27 ago

Episode 168: Kevin Hendricks - Ubivis Project

Feel free to leave us a comment! If you'd like to ask a question, or want a response, please send an email to us at catfishcops5.0@gmail.com! The dark web. Online extremism. Digital extortion. Human trafficking. These are complex investigations taking place in an online world that is constantly evolving—and our next guest has spent years working at the intersection of law enforcement, cybercrime, and the dark web. We’re joined by Detective and Task Force Officer Keven Hendricks of the New Brunswick Police Department in New Jersey, a veteran law enforcement officer whose career began in 2007. Hendricks has served with FBI and DEA cybercrime task forces and is recognized as a subject-matter expert in dark web investigations. His expertise has been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, NPR, The Economist, and Wired, and he trains law enforcement professionals both nationally and internationally. He is also the founder of the Ubivis Project – StopDarkwebDrugs.com and serves on the advisory council for the Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative. In this episode, we sit down with Keven to discuss the disturbing evolution of Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE) and Sadistic Online Extortion (SOE)—including how offenders exploit technology, online communities, and anonymity to target and manipulate victims. Most importantly, we discuss what law enforcement, parents, and communities need to understand about these emerging threats and why protecting children in the digital world has never been more important. This is a conversation about understanding what is happening in some of the darkest corners of the internet—and giving those tasked with protecting children the knowledge to recognize the threat and respond. Support the show
20 ago

Episode 167: Toilet Water

Feel free to leave us a comment! If you'd like to ask a question, or want a response, please send an email to us at catfishcops5.0@gmail.com! Gear up for a case with a WILD series of twists and turns, particularly when it comes to the forensics—evidence that ultimately helped lead to a sentence we do not see very often. Carlos was incredible to interview. While we are unable to identify his agency, what we can tell you is that he is a highly experienced and dedicated child protector serving the Dallas-Fort Worth law enforcement community. Cases involving crimes against children demand persistence, experience, and an unwavering commitment to following the evidence wherever it leads. Protecting children is among the most important responsibilities we have, and this case is a powerful reminder of why the men and women who investigate these crimes—and the forensic work behind those investigations—matter so much. This is a case you will want to hear from beginning to end. Support the show

This exciting new podcast delves into the stories of internet predators attempting to lure kids into their sexual traps. Your hosts are two current law enforcement detectives who proactively hunt these predators to bring them to justice, and protect and rescue children. Join them as they discuss the cases and give behind the scenes details that go into catching these heinous offenders.

Creado por

Brandon and Tony
Años en activo

2020 - 2026
Episodios

172
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Explícito
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© 2026 Catfish Cops
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