Federal prosecutors have dismantled a horrifying online child exploitation network that coerced vulnerable minors into acts of self-harm, signaling the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance approach to protecting America’s children from digital predators.
Quick Take
- DOJ charged five men operating “Greggy’s Cult,” an online network that terrorized children via Discord and gaming platforms
- Defendants produced and distributed child sexual abuse material while blackmailing victims into degrading acts
- FBI Director Kash Patel vowed that predators cannot hide behind keyboards as the administration prioritizes child protection
- Attorney General Pam Bondi committed the DOJ to holding accountable anyone preying on vulnerable populations
Predators Exploiting Digital Platforms to Target Vulnerable Children
Five individuals from across the United States—Hector Bermudez of Queens, Zachary Dosch of Albuquerque, Rumaldo Valdez of Honolulu, David Brilhante of San Diego, and Camden Rodriguez of Longmont—were arrested and charged with conspiracy to produce child pornography, conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, and conspiracy to communicate interstate threats.
Operating under the name “Greggy’s Cult,” these defendants used Discord servers and gaming platforms, including Roblox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, to identify and recruit vulnerable minors, then subjected them to systematic exploitation and coercion.
DOJ busts ‘Greggy’s Cult’ child exploitation network that allegedly coerced kids into self-harm https://t.co/WqNKDqMIHx
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 3, 2025
A Systematic Campaign of Degradation and Blackmail
Prosecutors described the defendants’ conduct as involving “depraved” tactics designed to break down victims psychologically. The network directed minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct during video calls, captured screenshots and recordings of this abuse, and shared the material across multiple Discord servers.
Beyond production and distribution of child sexual abuse material between January 2020 and January 2021, the defendants used sophisticated extortion methods—threatening to frame adult victims as pedophiles or infecting minors with malware—to coerce continued participation in degrading acts.
Justice Department’s Unwavering Commitment to Child Protection
FBI Director Kash Patel delivered a direct message to online predators: “The FBI is sending a message to those individuals involved in criminal activity through violent online networks: you can’t hide in the shadows hovering over a keyboard – we will find and hold accountable those who participate in these illegal and heinous acts.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi reinforced this commitment, stating that “no child should ever be terrorized or exploited online, and no online platform should give refuge to predators,” while pledging the DOJ would continue protecting children and supporting survivors using every available tool.
Broader Implications for Online Safety
The takedown of “Greggy’s Cult” reflects the Trump administration’s aggressive stance against online child exploitation networks. The DOJ noted this operation emerged before another major network called “764,” which the FBI is now pursuing with intensified effort.
These coordinated enforcement actions demonstrate the administration’s determination to dismantle digital infrastructure enabling child abuse and hold perpetrators accountable, addressing a critical gap in protecting American children from predators exploiting social media and gaming platforms.
