Washington Post reporter arrested on child pornography charges after FBI search and is placed on leave
A Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter was arrested and placed on leave after being charged with possessing child pornography on his work laptop.
Thomas Pham LeGro, 48, was arrested Thursday and taken into custody after a search of his District of Columbia home.
LeGro made his first appearance Friday in U.S. District Court.
The charges reportedly stem from an FBI search at his home Thursday, where agents seized several electronic devices.
A review of LeGro's work laptop allegedly revealed a folder that contained 11 videos depicting child sexual abuse material, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
During the execution of a search warrant, authorities said they found what appeared to be fractured pieces of a hard drive in the hallway outside the room where LeGro's work laptop was found.
"The Washington Post understands the severity of these allegations, and the employee has been placed on leave," a Washington Post spokesperson told Fox News Digital in an email Friday.
The George Mason graduate was part of a team of Post reporters awarded a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Senate candidacy of Roy Moore in 2018.
LeGro, who has been with the publication for more than a decade, served as deputy director of video, overseeing a group of video journalists. He also briefly worked for PBS.
Pirro thanked FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department for their ongoing efforts in the investigation.
The case, part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative, is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, according to the release.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Decatur police relaunch Explorer program to inspire future officers
Jun. 28—A group of teenagers could be seen jogging around the perimeter of the Decatur Fire and Police Training Center in Flint on Friday, wrapping up a two-week Decatur Police Department program that introduced them to everything from ballistics theory to patrol traffic operations. The Department's Explorer program was relaunched this year after it was put on hold for a few years beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic. Eight students from around Morgan County signed up and it was led by Officer John Wellman, his first time to lead the program.. "We do the training so they can see what we do," Wellman said. "It's more about building relationships with them and showing them what law enforcement does and how (students) can be good, productive members of society." Each day started off with a round of physical training, with each participant being asked to do 22 pushups, 25 sit-ups, and a mile and half run to show them what it is like to train for the police force. They have to complete an obstacle course as well. "That's what the state requires each law enforcement officer to do," Wellman said. Wellman also explained how patrol officers use radar and laser devices during traffic stops to measure vehicle speed and identify potential violations. Last week, a technician from the Crime Scene Investigation team came to teach the group a two-hour class, which included how to conduct a shooting investigation. "He went over bullet trajectory, using a laser to show where the bullet had been shot and what position the shooter was in, whether sitting or standing," Wellman said. "They got to go through the whole experience and were even able to get fingerprinted and learned how that process works." Later, the group observed four new Decatur police recruits undergo pepper spray training, in which each recruit was sprayed in the face and then required to strike two blocking pads held by fellow officers before successfully handcuffing another — simulating a scenario where an officer is exposed to pepper spray but must still make an arrest and control the situation. Wellman said this was the first time an Explorer group witnessed such an event. This was the first year for Diego Fuentes, Dana Jade Puckett and Kenadie Livingston to join the program. All three said they are interested in law enforcement careers after they graduate high school. Fuentes, a junior at West Morgan High School, said he always talks to his school resource officer about the nature of police work. "I always ask him how is it and what you have to do and it made me more interested," Fuentes said. He said ever since he was in kindergarten and adults would ask him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he always told them a police officer. Austin Junior High freshman Puckett said she was interested in a career with the FBI and said speaking with police officers in Decatur led her to enrolling in the Explorer program. Livingston, a freshman at Hartselle High School, said she was in the car with her mother one day when they were pulled over, and the interaction with the officer sparked her interest in law enforcement. "We started watching the shows after that and I started talking to my SRO and he would show me what he did and sent me websites," Livingston said. "It was pretty cool." Decatur police can point to the success of their Explorer Program through one of their own — Officer Grant Jones participated in the program as a teen. "He got to come and teach one of the days last week and that was a good thing," Wellman said. "They could see he was a kid in high school at one point and did this same program and now he's an officer here in the city. It was awesome for them to see that." Jones, 25, said he enrolled in the program in early 2017 after he had taken an interest in law enforcement through his father, who was a captain with the Decatur Police Department before he retired. "The program peaked my interest in law enforcement even more as I began to learn things on a personal level and get a feel for more of what the job entailed," Jones said Friday. He said one of the most cherished things he could remember about the program was graduating and receiving his plaque. Three years later, he applied to join the force. "I think it is important for the youth to be involved as it provides good community service, exposure, and can help show the youth that officers are human as well and form good relationships between the youth and the department," Jones said of the program. — or 256-340-2442.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Swimmer's body recovered from lake at Portage Lakes State Park: ODNR
AKRON, Ohio (WJW) — Search teams have recovered the body of a swimmer who investigators said went missing at Portage Lakes State Park on Tuesday. Witnesses said the man was in the designated swimming area when he went underwater but did not resurface, according to an Ohio Department of Natural Resources spokesperson. According to the New Franklin Fire Department, around 6:45 p.m., divers found the man's body in 10 feet of water about 150 feet from the shore. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim was identified as Walter O'Neil Cox, 49, of Akron. ONDR said an autopsy will be performed. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they try to come to grips with this tragicaccident,' the fire department said in a release. I-480 ramp to Tiedeman reopens after police incident The beach area remained closed during the search, according to a spokesperson. 2 firefighters injured after fire breaks out at Rocky River Brewing Company One person died following a water rescue last week at the park. That victim's vehicle was found submerged near a boat launch in New Franklin just after 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 19, according to officials. First responders tried to resuscitate that person, but they later died at a hospital. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Family pushing for change after woman killed in Taco Bell drive-thru shooting
STOW, Ohio (WJW) – The family of a young woman who was murdered while in the drive-thru line at the Taco Bell on Graham Road in Stow is fighting to make all drive-thru lanes safer. 'My daughter would still be alive, I truly believe that,' said Nick Keleman, father of Megan Keleman. The 25-year-old was with her dog at the fast food restaurant on August 14, 2024, when a disturbed man pulled up behind her. Police say 53-year-old Jason Williams, who had struggled with mental health issues, began blowing his horn and ramming his vehicle into Megan's, although they don't know why. 'Whole world shattered': Local mom speaks after son killed in OVI crash; former Buckeye charged With no escape, Keleman asked Taco Bell employees to call the police, while she was also on the phone with her father. 'I deal with this every day,' said Nick with tears in his eyes. 'I heard the fear in her voice. I couldn't get to her quick enough., I couldn't protect her.' Before Nick or the police arrived, Williams fatally shot Megan and then himself. Police Chief Jeffrey Film said at the time, 'we have no information to indicate that the two subjects knew one another.' Megan's family strongly believes she would still be alive if that drive-thru had a second open/exit lane. 'You have a building on the left and an embankment on right. There's no way to get out,' he said. Tuesday night, the Keleman family — including Megan's mother Kelly and her brother Matthew — met with Stow's planning commission in support of 'Megan's Way Out,' a zoning code proposal that would require drive-thrus to have a 10-foot bypass lane. It's basically a second open lane that could be used for any number of emergencies. About 40 people, mostly supporters, also attended the meeting where the bypass lanes were described as, 'necessary and important to provide for emergency and safety access in the event of medical emergencies and mechanical issues as well as improving traffic flow and congestion management on the property.' It would apply to all new restaurants and businesses with drive-thru lanes and/or those undergoing restoration. The planning commission unanimously passed 'Megan's Way Out.' The next step will be full hearings in July, then public comment and a final vote scheduled for September. Swimmer's body recovered from lake at Portage Lakes State Park: ODNR The family hopes to start with Stow and then have 'Megan's Way Out' adopted across the state. They're getting help from a state senator. 'It's something we want to implement statewide,' said Ohio State Senator Casey Weinstein, (D) Hudson. The family calls it common sense and said they'll be there every step of the way. 'We just want to honor Megan and make her proud and make change,' said Kelly Keleman. The family also started a nonprofit called Megan's Rainbow of Hope to provide scholarships and 'spread happiness & kindness like confetti,' just like Megan who lived to help others. FOX 8 reached out to Taco Bell for comment on the proposed changes but have not yet received a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
