A Pittsburgh tech entrepreneur is facing charges of soliciting sexual contact with a young girl.The attorney general’s office said 57-year-old Eric T. Gillespie of the South Side tried to arrange a meeting with a preteen girl in Lebanon County. An agent posed as an adult in an online chat platform often utilized by offenders attempting to arrange meetings with children, according to the AG’s office.”Our Child Predator Section proactively uncovered this defendant who, under an online pseudonym, was lurking online to access children,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said.Gillespie is founder and chairman of Govini, a software company with an office in Lawrenceville. Records show Govini has been awarded millions of dollars in contracts with the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies. In a press release last month, Govini announced that it surpassed $100 million in annual revenue.The press release quoted Gillespie saying, “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.” Govini officials did not respond to requests for comment about Gillespie’s arrest.Gillespie is facing four felony counts. A judge denied bail, citing flight risk and public safety concerns, according to the attorney general’s office.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
A Pittsburgh tech entrepreneur is facing charges of soliciting sexual contact with a young girl.
The attorney general’s office said 57-year-old Eric T. Gillespie of the South Side tried to arrange a meeting with a preteen girl in Lebanon County.
An agent posed as an adult in an online chat platform often utilized by offenders attempting to arrange meetings with children, according to the AG’s office.
“Our Child Predator Section proactively uncovered this defendant who, under an online pseudonym, was lurking online to access children,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said.
Gillespie is founder and chairman of Govini, a software company with an office in Lawrenceville.
Records show Govini has been awarded millions of dollars in contracts with the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies. In a press release last month, Govini announced that it surpassed $100 million in annual revenue.
The press release quoted Gillespie saying, “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.”
Govini officials did not respond to requests for comment about Gillespie’s arrest.
Gillespie is facing four felony counts. A judge denied bail, citing flight risk and public safety concerns, according to the attorney general’s office.
Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.