For Immediate Release

October 30, 2025

TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) assisted the Tampa Police Department (TPD) and Spokane Police Department (SPD) in the arrest of Tyrone Lee Cliff, 38, on seven felony charges of possession of child sexual abuse material. At the time of his arrest, Cliff was working as a middle school teacher in Hillsborough County. The arrest is the result of FDLE’s statewide initiative to locate and arrest criminals targeting children and sharing files depicting the sexual abuse of children.

The investigation began in August when the Tampa Police Department received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding a user downloading child sexual abuse material. Through investigative methods, detectives were able to determine that the device belonged to Cliff. The original address assigned to the device identified Cliff’s residence in Spokane, Washington. After further investigation by the Spokane Police Department and FDLE, agents determined that Cliff recently moved from Spokane to Ruskin, Florida. Prior to living in Spokane, Cliff also owned a martial arts studio in the Tampa Bay area starting in 2015.

On October 28, Cliff was arrested on an out-of-state extradition warrant with seven first-degree felony charges of possession of child sexual abuse material. He was transported to the Hillsborough County Jail where he is awaiting extradition to Spokane, Washington.

The case will be prosecuted by the Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. This investigation is active. Anyone with additional information regarding this arrest is encouraged to call Special Agent Sean McEntee at (800) 226-1140.

To learn more about keeping children safe online, visit SecureFlorida.org. 

For Further Information Contact:

FDLE Office of Public Information

Info@fdle.state.fl.us