Major Pentagon contractor executive caught in child sex sting operation
Eric Gillespie, the founder and executive chairman of Govini, a prominent software firm with significant ties to the Pentagon, has been arrested and charged with soliciting sexual contact with a preteen girl. The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office reported that Gillespie, 57, from Pittsburgh, allegedly attempted to arrange a meeting with a young girl via an online chat platform notorious for being used by sex offenders. This investigation, part of a proactive initiative by the Attorney General’s Child Predator Section, involved an undercover agent posing as an adult, who intercepted Gillespie’s messages. The charges against him include four felony counts, notably unlawful contact with a minor, leading the judge to deny him bail based on concerns about flight risk and public safety.
Govini, which specializes in artificial intelligence software for analyzing vast amounts of government and commercial data, has secured substantial federal contracts, including a five-year, $400 million deal with the Pentagon in 2019 and a recent 10-year agreement worth $919 million for developing a supply-chain risk platform. The company announced earlier this month that it had surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue and received a $150 million growth investment. In light of Gillespie’s charges, a company spokesperson stated that he has been placed on administrative leave and emphasized their commitment to cooperating with law enforcement while upholding the highest ethical standards. This incident has raised significant concerns given Govini’s integral role in supporting defense acquisition and modernization efforts, as the firm prides itself on being trusted by every department of the U.S. military.
The implications of Gillespie’s arrest extend beyond personal ramifications, potentially affecting Govini’s operations and reputation, especially considering its crucial role in national defense. As the company works to navigate this sensitive situation, it faces the challenge of maintaining its standing in the defense sector while ensuring accountability and support for victims of abuse. The case highlights the ongoing issues of child exploitation in the digital age and the importance of vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable populations from such predatory behavior.
The founder and executive chairman of Govini, a software firm with deep Pentagon ties, has been arrested and charged with
soliciting sexual contact
with a preteen girl, according to the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office.
Eric Gillespie, 57, of Pittsburgh, allegedly tried to arrange a meeting with a young girl through an online chat platform often used by sex offenders, authorities said. An undercover agent posing as an adult intercepted Gillespie’s messages.
“Our Child Predator Section proactively uncovered this defendant who, under an online pseudonym, was lurking online to access children,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “During the investigation, Gillespie alluded to methods he accessed children, and other evidence was found regarding contact with children,” the office said in a statement.
Gillespie was denied bail, with a judge citing flight risk and public safety concerns. He faces four felony counts, including multiple charges of unlawful contact with a minor.
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A company spokesperson told Fox News Digital of the charges: “On November 10, 2025, the company was notified of felony charges against Eric Gillespie. As soon as we learned of these charges, we took immediate action to place Mr. Gillespie on administrative leave. The Company will fully cooperate with law enforcement in connection with their investigation. We acknowledge the severity of these charges and as a Company will hold all our employees to the highest ethical standards. We stand steadfast in support of all victims of abuse of any kind.”
Govini develops
artificial-intelligence software
used by the Pentagon and other agencies to analyze large volumes of government and commercial data, including defense budgets, industrial-base capacity, supply chains, and acquisition programs.
The company has landed major federal contracts in recent years, including a five-year, $400 million Pentagon contract in 2019 and a 10-year agreement valued at $919 million announced in April 2025 with the Defense Department and General Services Administration to build a supply-chain risk platform.
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Earlier this month, Govini said it surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue and secured a $150 million growth investment, according to a news release by the company.
“I founded Govini to create an entirely new category of software built to transform how the U.S. government uses AI and data to make decisions,” Gillespie had said in that release.
The firm describes itself as “trusted by every department of the U.S. military” and says its flagship
analytics platform supports defense acquisition
, supply-chain and modernization work.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
