Sex offender accused of taking pics at Federal Way Costco

In addition, more than 100 photos of young girls were taken surreptitiously while they shopped with their families at local retail stores, according to U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan's office. Before his arrest, O'Neall worked for a contractor that provided food samples at the Costco store in Federal Way. Some of the photos appear to have been taken at that store, the office reports.

June 21, 2012 8:24 pm

From staff reports:

A resident of Des Moines was arrested Thursday on federal charges of possession and distribution of child pornography.

Gregory Sean O’Neall, 51, was busted after an undercover Homeland Security Investigations agent observed sexually explicit images of children being distributed from an Internet protocol address belonging to O’Neall.

In addition, more than 100 photos of young girls were taken surreptitiously while they shopped with their families at local retail stores, according to U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan’s office. Before his arrest, O’Neall worked for a contractor that provided food samples at the Costco store in Federal Way. Some of the photos appear to have been taken at that store, the office reports.

The undercover agent engaged O’Neall in an online chat and observed the suspect posting the explicit photos on a file sharing site.

O’Neall, a convicted sex offender originally from Texas, appeared in front of a U.S. magistrate judge today and has a detention hearing Friday.

Distribution of child pornography by a convicted sex offender is punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison. The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). Parents who have questions about this case may contact (206) 442-1638.