Former college track coach charged with nude photo scheme

BOSTON — A former track and field coach at various universities, including Penn State University, has been charged with using bogus social media accounts to try to trick female student athletes into sending him nude photos of themselves.

Steve Waithe, 28, of Chicago, was arrested Wednesday in Chicago and is charged in Boston federal court with cyberstalking and wire fraud.

Between October 2018 and February 2019, Waithe was employed as a track and field coach at Northeastern University in Boston. It is alleged that during that time, Waithe frequently requested to use female athletes’ cellphones under the pretense of filming their form at practice and at meets. At times, he was observed “scrolling through” the phones.

Beginning in at least February 2020, Waithe allegedly perpetrated a scheme to dupe female Northeastern University track and field athletes into sending him nude or semi-nude photos of themselves. Specifically, Waithe contacted the alleged victims through social media accounts, stated that he had found compromising photos of them online and offered to “help” get the photos removed from the internet. Under this pretense, it is alleged that Waithe requested additional nude or semi-nude photos that he could purportedly use for “reverse image searches.” He used various pseudonyms on social media including variations of the phrase “Privacy Protector,” “Katie Janovich” and “Anon” followed by various numbers.

The defendant also allegedly cyberstalked at least one female student athlete between June 2020 and October 2020.

Authorities say additional victims were the target of a separate scheme to get women to send photos of him via email under the guise of athlete research or body development.

According to charging documents, Waithe previously worked as a track and field coach at several academic institutions, including Penn State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Tennessee and Concordia University Chicago.

If you believe that you may be a victim of the allegations in this case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/us-v-steven-waithe.

Mother in police custody after 2-month-old daughter found dead in duffel bag (NCD)

Cox Media Group