Indictment of Five Men for Online Child Exploitation
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday that five men have been indicted in connection with an alleged online “child exploitation enterprise” known as “Greggy’s Cult.” This group reportedly utilized Discord servers to frighten, intimidate, and pressure minors into engaging in “horrendous acts of self-harm.”
An unsealed indictment by federal prosecutors accuses these individuals of conspiring to manufacture and distribute child pornography, as well as communicate interstate threats. The indicted individuals include Hector Bermudez, 29, from Queens, New York; Zachary Dosch, 26, from Albuquerque, New Mexico; Lumaldo Valdez, 22, residing in Honolulu, Hawaii; David Brillhante, 28, from San Diego, California; and Camden Rodriguez, 22, from Longmont, Colorado. Rodriguez was arrested on Tuesday and will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York sometime soon.
Prosecutors described what they called a “nightmare internet platform,” claiming that the “Greggies Cult” was involved in “depraved acts” like urging victims to commit suicide and encouraging them to use household items for self-harm.
FBI Director Kash Patel remarked that the defendants allegedly targeted vulnerable children through online venues, exploiting, harassing, and compelling them to perform terrible acts. He emphasized that the FBI will actively seek out those engaged in such criminal behavior online. “We cannot hide behind the shadows hovering over our keyboards,” he stated.
The indictment indicates that from January 2020 to January 2021, the defendants were involved in producing and distributing child sexual abuse material, while also harassing both minors and adults in various ways.
It appears that members of “Greggy’s Cult” connected via Discord, instructing minors to perform explicit and degrading acts during video calls. They are also accused of locating potential victims on gaming platforms like Roblox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
According to the DOJ, the cult members allegedly documented these acts through screenshots and screen recordings, which they then shared across different Discord servers.
Attorney General Pam Bondi reacted to the indictment, asserting that “No child should be exposed to terror or exploitation online, and online platforms should not provide a safe haven for predators.” She also reiterated the commitment of the DOJ to protect children and confront anyone who exploits others, whether online or offline.
Prosecutors further alleged that the defendants blackmailed their targets and manipulated adult victims into behaving unlawfully, which they then used as leverage to pressure underage victims into performing humiliating acts on camera. Some of these defendants managed to convince victims to display loyalty to the cult by marking their bodies with cult members’ names—actions that prosecutors described as “fan signs.”
Matthew Galeotti, the Acting Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ’s Criminal Division, noted that the charges include egregious acts of coercion and threats against both children and adults. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocera Jr. called the actions of these individuals “heinous,” emphasizing that some children were pushed “to the brink of suicide.”
The DOJ highlighted that Greggy’s Cult was established prior to the emergence of the “764 network,” another online group implicated in child exploitation, which the FBI is working to dismantle. Members of “764” allegedly use popular platforms such as Discord, Telegram, and Roblox to recruit and manipulate minors.
