WV man admits to producing child pornography
WHEELING, W.V. – A Weirton, West Virginia, man who was arrested March 13 for production of child pornography charges stemming from a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigation pleaded guilty to them Monday.
Gongloff, 25, originally from Terra Alta, West Virginia, produced numerous images depicting nude minors and minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Through public outreach, HSI special agents identified the child victim.
Gongloff also misrepresented his name and age on a website known as MeetMe.com, claiming to be 17 years old and using the name “Johnny Williamson,” in order to transmit sexually explicit photographs to minor females.
“What this man is charged with is one of the most heinous crimes in our society,” said John Kelleghan, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. “HSI is committed to aggressively pursuing those who create or trade child pornography. It’s our job to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Vogrin is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. HSI is leading the investigation with assistance from the West Virginia State Police.
This investigation was conducted under HSI’s Operation Predator, an international initiative to protect children from sexual predators. Since the launch of Operation Predator in 2003, HSI has arrested more than 10,000 individuals for crimes against children, including the production and distribution of online child pornography, traveling overseas for sex with minors, and sex trafficking of children. In fiscal 2014, more than 2,300 individuals were arrested by HSI special agents under this initiative and more than 1,000 victims identified or rescued.
HSI encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. From outside the U.S. and Canada, callers should dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users can call TTY 802-872-6196. Suspected child sexual exploitation or missing children may be reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, an Operation Predator partner, via its toll-free 24-hour hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST.
For additional information about wanted suspected child predators, download HSI’s Operation Predator smartphone app or visit the online suspect alerts page.
HSI is a founding member and current chair of the Virtual Global Taskforce, an international alliance of law enforcement agencies and private industry sector partners working together to prevent and deter online child sexual abuse.
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