WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - Robert J. Gongloff, 25, of Weirton, West Virginia, was arrested on March 13, 2015 pursuant to a criminal complaint charging him with “Production of Child Pornography," United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, and Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge John Kelleghan announced today.
Gongloff, originally from Terra Alta in Preston County, West Virginia, is alleged to have produced numerous images and videos depicting nude minors and minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Gongloff is further alleged to have 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.
HSI requests that anyone with knowledge of this man’s unsupervised contact with minors should contact the agency by calling the 24-hour HSI Tip line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.
The public can also submit an online tip at www.ice.gov/tips/ or by downloading the Operation Predator smartphone app and submitting a tip via the app.
“What this man is charged with is one of the most heinous crimes in our society," said Kelleghan. “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. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations is leading the investigation with assistance from the West Virginia State Police.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
