Queens Man and Four Others Charged in Online Child Exploitation Case

A man from Queens, along with four associates, has been accused of blackmailing children on a gaming platform, coercing them into performing sexual acts on camera, and then pressuring them to commit suicide, according to federal prosecutors.

The group, identified as Greggy’s Cult, targeted children as young as 11 from 2019 to 2021, using messaging apps like Discord and gaming platforms such as Roblox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has outlined these charges.

Hector Bermudez, 29, was arrested on Tuesday and faced arraignment in federal court.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed outrage, stating that “no child should be terrorized or exploited online, and online platforms should not give predators a safe haven.” She emphasized the Department of Justice’s commitment to safeguarding children and holding offenders accountable.

Prosecutors disclosed that the accused utilized video calls to compel children across the nation to engage in sexual acts, sometimes even using common household items. They recorded or took screenshots of these acts and shared them online.

Additionally, the cult allegedly forced victims to inscribe members’ names on their bodies, plead for forgiveness on video, and declare themselves “property” to demonstrate loyalty, which was quite disturbing, according to court documents.

The case details indicate that the suspects went further, encouraging multiple victims to take their own lives, with one being instructed to either overdose or hang himself using a ceiling fan.

Authorities noted that the group used malware to lock children out of their computers until they obeyed the cult’s demands.

The youngest victim was just 11 years old, as reported in court documents.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch commented on the situation, highlighting how easily predators can infiltrate platforms used by minors. She reiterated the commitment of law enforcement to expose and dismantle such online groups.

Besides Bermudez, the indictment includes Zachary Dosch, 26, from Albuquerque; Rumaldo Valdez, 22, in Honolulu; David Brillhante, 28, from San Diego; and Camden Rodriguez, 22, from Longmont, Colorado. Valdez is currently incarcerated on separate federal charges.

Each of the suspects faces charges that include sexual exploitation of a minor, distribution of child pornography, and conspiracy to make interstate threats.

The FBI urges anyone who might have been affected to contact them through their hotline.