On August 4, 2026, a former FBI Supervisory Microbiologist previously assigned to the FBI Lab in Quantico, Virginia, pleaded guilty to one count of advertisement for CSAM and one count of possession of CSAM. Cary Rue pled guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia. According to the statement of facts in support of the guilty plea, Rue did knowingly make and publish or cause to be made or published in November 2025, a notice and advertisement seeking and offering to receive, exchange, produce, display, distribute, and reproduce a visual depiction, the production of which visual depiction involved the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, knowing that the advertisement would be transported using interstate and foreign commerce. In addition, on or about April 8, 2026, Rue knowingly possessed at least one matter on an Android Galaxy S22 cell phone containing a visual depiction of CSAM, and beginning in at least November 2023, Rue sought, received, and stored thousands of images and videos of CSAM on that same phone. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the OIG’s Washington Office and the FBI.
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