US Navy Lieutenant Commander Pleads Guilty To Kiddie Porn
US Navy Lieutenant Commander Pleads Guilty To Distributing Kiddie Porn And Retaining Classified National Defense Information
US Navy Lieutenant Commander Gregory Edward McLean pleaded guilty to one count of distributing kiddie porn videos. He also pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful retention of classified national defense information.
The plea agreement states that Rhode Island law enforcement received a cyber tip started the investigation. The tip stated that a user of a particular messaging application had shared videos depicting sexual abuse of young children.
Law enforcement identified the user as Lieutenant Commander McLean. LCMR McLean was an active-duty officer in the U.S. Navy at the time and serving as the Executive Officer of a ship stationed at Naval Station Mayport in Florida.
NCIS continued the investigation and identified additional instances where McLean had distributed child pornography.
On Nov. 4, 2021, agents executed a federal search warrant at McLean’s residence. They seized numerous electronic devices and storage media. A forensic review also revealed that several of these items contained files depicting more kiddie porn.
US Navy Lieutenant Commander Kept Top Secret Documents In His Home
The forensic review also identified a flash drive that contained approximately 150 classified documents.
The NCIS and the FBI investigations also revealed that McLean held a Top-Secret security clearance. Therefore, McLean was aware that his home was not an authorized location to store classified national defense information.
In particular, the criminal information and plea agreement identify two documents McLean unlawfully retained which contained national defense information related to foreign governments. This information also contained the foreign government’s combat aircraft and naval capabilities.
McLean faces a minimum mandatory penalty of five years and up to 20 years in prison for the child exploitation offense. In addition, he is facing up to 10 years in prison for the retention of classified information. However, the court has not scheduled a date has not yet been scheduled.
NCIS, FBI, and Rhode Island State Police are investigating the case, with assistance from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David B. Mesrobian and Kirwinn Mike for the Middle District of Florida and Senior Trial Attorney Heather Schmidt of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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