DOJ charges five in ‘Greggy’s Cult’ ring
The Department of Justice charged five men for allegedly running an online child exploitation enterprise known as “Greggy’s Cult,” accusing them of coercing minors on Discord and gaming platforms to perform sexually explicit acts and self-harm. An indictment unsealed Friday and arrests on Tuesday span New York, New Mexico, Hawaii, California, and Colorado, with arraignments to occur in the Eastern District of New York. DOJ and the FBI say the group produced and distributed child sexual abuse material from January 2020 to January 2021 and used threats and harassment to victimize children.
📌 Key Facts
- Defendants: Hector Bermudez (29, Queens, NY), Zachary Dosch (26, Albuquerque, NM), Rumaldo Valdez (22, Honolulu, HI), David Brilhante (28, San Diego, CA), and Camden Rodriguez (22, Longmont, CO).
- Charges include conspiracy to produce, receive, and distribute child pornography, and conspiracy to communicate interstate threats.
- Arrests occurred Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, with arraignments to take place in the Eastern District of New York.
- Alleged conduct ran from January 2020 to January 2021; victims were contacted via Discord and gaming platforms like Roblox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
- FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi issued statements condemning the alleged exploitation and pledging continued enforcement.
📊 Relevant Data
In FY2023, 98.8% of offenders sentenced for child pornography offenses were men, compared to approximately 49% of the US population being male.
Quick Facts: Child Pornography Offenses — United States Sentencing Commission
In FY2023, 77.1% of child pornography offenders were White, 12.8% Hispanic, 5.8% Black, and 4.3% Other races, compared to US population estimates of approximately 59% non-Hispanic White, 19% Hispanic, and 13% Black.
Quick Facts: Child Pornography Offenses — United States Sentencing Commission
Sextortion victims are primarily boys between the ages of 14 to 17.
Sextortion: A Growing Threat Preying Upon Our Nation’s Teens — Federal Bureau of Investigation
From October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors, involving at least 12,600 victims, primarily boys.
Sextortion: A Growing Threat Preying Upon Our Nation’s Teens — Federal Bureau of Investigation
The FBI observed a greater than 20% increase in reporting of financially motivated sextortion incidents involving minor victims from October 2022 to March 2023 compared to the same period the previous year.
Sextortion: A Growing Threat Preying Upon Our Nation’s Teens — Federal Bureau of Investigation
Offenders who engage in financially motivated sextortion are often located outside the United States, primarily in west African countries such as Nigeria and Ivory Coast, or Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines.
Sextortion: A Growing Threat Preying Upon Our Nation’s Teens — Federal Bureau of Investigation