A Meta engineering manager whose LinkedIn profile described his work as building ‘digital experiences for kids’ has been arrested after police said he admitted exchanging sexually explicit messages with a person he believed was a 13-year-old girl during an undercover operation in New York.
- Meta engineering manager Josh Felker faces child endangerment charges after police intercepted explicit messages intended for a person believed to be 13.
- The forty-four-year-old suspect, who previously managed digital experiences for minors, faces his next Manhattan Criminal Court hearing on September 9.
- The Predator Poachers Long Island sting exposes a critical vetting failure at Meta regarding employees managing sensitive products for children.
Josh Felker, 44, was charged with disseminating indecent material to minors and endangering the welfare of a child after police arrested him following a confrontation with Predator Poachers Long Island, a vigilante group that poses as minors online to expose suspected predators.
Felker pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court. Meta said it had placed him on leave and would cooperate with law enforcement.
Meta Role Draws Attention
Felker worked as an engineering manager at Meta before his arrest.
According to his now-deleted LinkedIn profile, he helped build “digital experiences for kids”, a description that has drawn attention following the charges. Publicly available information reviewed before the profile was removed described his work as developing products and experiences aimed at younger users.
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→ Submit a Press ReleaseMeta has not alleged that Felker’s work was connected to the criminal case.
In a statement provided to several US media outlets, the company said it had placed Felker on leave and would cooperate with investigators.
Undercover Sting Led to Arrest
According to police and accounts published by Predator Poachers Long Island, Felker allegedly began communicating in May with what he believed was a 13-year-old girl through a social media account operated by the group.
Investigators allege the conversations became sexually explicit over the following weeks and included photographs, videos and discussions about meeting in person.
Members of the group confronted Felker outside his Manhattan apartment last week. Video of the confrontation circulated online before police arrived and arrested him nearby.
Authorities later charged him with disseminating indecent material to minors and endangering the welfare of a child.
Felker Pleads Not Guilty
Felker entered a plea of not guilty during his initial court appearance.
His next court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9.
The allegations remain unproven, and prosecutors must establish the charges in court.
Vigilante Groups Increasingly Feature in Online Predator Cases
Unlike many child exploitation investigations, Felker’s case began with a private vigilante organisation rather than a police agency.
Predator Poachers Long Island is among several groups that conduct undercover online operations by posing as minors before notifying law enforcement when they believe a crime has occurred.
Police ultimately made the arrest in Felker’s case, while prosecutors will determine whether the evidence gathered during the investigation is sufficient to secure a conviction.
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