Allegations have surfaced that a notorious online group targeted children on a well-known social platform, pressuring them into self-harm and engaging in disturbing sexual activities.
The five individuals linked to “Greggy’s Cult” are accused of harassing minors on Discord, a messaging app, and infiltrating games like Roblox to coerce children as young as 11 into compromising situations. According to prosecutors, the accused pedophiles orchestrated the online cult, where they reportedly pushed some victims towards suicide.
Specifically, Hector Bermudez, 29, from New York, Zachary Dosch, 26, from Albuquerque, Rumaldo Valdez, 22, from Honolulu, David Brilhante, 28, from San Diego, and Camden Rodriguez, 22, from Longmont, Colorado, allegedly collaborated to create child pornography, distribute it, and communicate threats across state lines. These charges were filed in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York.
US attorney Joseph Nocella stated, “The defendants exploited a popular online platform to coerce minors into producing explicit child pornography, which they then circulated. They not only tormented the victims with these images but also pushed some minors towards self-harm and suicide.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R Galeotti added, “These individuals are accused of forcing and blackmailing both children and adults into engaging in self-harm and degrading activities. Today’s indictment underscores the firm stance of the Criminal Division against such abhorrent crimes, committing to bringing these offenders to justice.”
The FBI’s New York Assistant Director in Charge, Raia, mentioned, “The defendants coerced children into sharing videos of themselves subjected to severe sexual abuse, while also promoting self-harm and suicide. They exploited online gaming platforms to target unsuspecting minors, fulfilling the twisted desires of their group. The FBI remains relentless in pursuing those who prey on innocent victims for torment and exploitation in their depraved schemes.”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized, “No child should endure terror or exploitation online, and no platform should harbor predators. The Department of Justice will continue to safeguard children, support survivors, and hold accountable anyone preying on the vulnerable, whether online or offline.”
The defendants are accused of participating in the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material and exploiting minors and adults between January 2020 and January 2021. They allegedly coerced victims into degrading acts, including claiming allegiance to members of the online cult.
Reports indicate that victims were instructed to display loyalty by inscribing members’ names on their bodies or holding signs with the names. The group allegedly targeted victims on Discord servers or gaming platforms like Roblox, pushing them to perform demeaning tasks.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative introduced by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse across the nation.
Project Safe Childhood, led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, coordinates federal, state, and local efforts to identify, capture, and prosecute individuals exploiting children online