Ex-ABC producer indicted on child pornography charges
A former ABC News producer was indicted on three counts of child pornography nearly a year after his home was invaded by the FBI.
James Gordon Meek, 53, was charged this week, facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted with the maximum penalty.
Ex-ABC News senior producer James Meek is indicted on three child pornography counts - a year after FBI raided his home for evidence pic.twitter.com/XdrfCLK0J9
— News News News (@NewsNew97351204) April 6, 2023
The details
"Meek's predatory behavior was first exposed when Dropbox alerted authorities to child porn stored in his account in March 2021, The New York Post reported. The FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force led the investigation," the Daily Mail reported.
"In April 27, 2022, DOJ agents then raided his penthouse apartment in which they seized a laptop, external hard drive, and multiple iPhones that reportedly contained child porn. Shortly after, he abruptly resigned from the network," it added.
Ex-ABC News reporter James Gordon Meek hit with child pornography charge.
https://t.co/0hKJQeZFZR— Nikos 👁️ (@factchecknikos) February 1, 2023
The affidavit
"In an affidavit unsealed Wednesday, FBI Special Agent Tonya Sturgill Griffith explained that the investigation into Meek’s online activities started in March 2021, when Dropbox alerted authorities to child porn stored in the veteran journalist’s account," the New York Post stated.
"A search warrant was executed at Meek’s Arlington home on April 27, 2022, when investigators seized several devices including an iPhone 8," it added.
BOOP!!!
Former ABC News Producer James Gordon Meek Arrest!!!
Man Arrested for Transporting Images of Child Sexual Abuse https://t.co/3ffCatmrWJ
— Badd Company (@BaddCompani) February 1, 2023
The arrest
"This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse," according to a statement from the Justice Department.
"Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims," it continued.
FBI Raids Star ABC News Producer’s Home https://t.co/zR2pgHBeO8
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) October 19, 2022
Rolling Stone first broke the news of the former producer's arrest in the concerning case.
"Multiple sources familiar with the matter say Meek was the target of an FBI raid at the Siena Park apartments, where he had been living on the top floor for more than a decade," the publication stated.
"An FBI representative told Rolling Stone its agents were present on the morning of April 27 'at the 2300 block of Columbia Pike, Arlington, Virginia, conducting court-authorized law-enforcement activity. The FBI cannot comment further due to an ongoing investigation,'" it added.
Meek resigned from ABC immediately following the raid of his home with little public information about his whereabouts prior to his arrest.
Prior to working at ABC News, Meek also wrote for the New York Daily News along with other media projects.
The latest update shows that the charges are moving forward in the case and that Meek will soon face trial over the disturbing allegations.
