MANILA: The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has offered a US$25,000 (about P1.5 million) reward for information leading to the arrest of a Filipino content creator accused of being part of an online network of child predators.
The FBI on Saturday (April 18) (Philippine time) posted a wanted notice for Austin Jan Sy Yatco, 27, of San Pedro, Laguna.
Known by his “Hairy Lips” username on his now-deleted YouTube and Discord accounts, he gained notoriety during the Covid-19 era as a troll who disrupted online classes and, ironically, claimed to expose online pedophiles.
In a news release, the FBI said Yatco, now considered a fugitive, is accused of involvement in the exploitation of minor victims between 2019 and 2021, as part of an online group whose members allegedly carried out criminal activity across gaming and social media platforms.
The US District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Brooklyn issued an arrest warrant against Yatco in January after he was charged with conspiracy to produce child pornography and conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography.
According to the FBI, Yatco is allegedly party of “Greggy’s Cult,” an online group whose members target vulnerable populations including children, across the United States and around the globe, “to engage in self-harm, produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM), engage in acts of animal cruelty, sexually exploit siblings, and in some cases encourage victims to attempt suicide.”
The group allegedly finds victims through Discord servers and gaming platforms such as Roblox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Yatco and the group allegedly coerced minor victims into creating child pornography of themselves and then distributed it among the group and to others.
The FBI said Yatco previously lived in Plano, Texas, before fleeing the United States and is currently believed to be in the Philippines.
“The FBI continues to prioritize the investigation of predators that threaten the safety of our children,” FBI Dallas special agent in charge Joseph Rothrock said.
“We are committed to apprehending Austin Yatco, bringing justice to his victims, and preventing future abuse. We encourage the public to come forward with any information that could lead to his apprehension,” he added.
Five members of Greggys Cult, all in their 20s, were arrested and charged in December 2025 with child exploitation enterprise, conspiracy to produce child pornography, conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, and conspiracy to communicate interstate threats.
They were Hector Bermudez, 29, of Queens, New York; Zachary Dosch, 26, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Rumaldo Valdez, 22, of Honolulu, Hawaii; David Brilhante, 28, of San Diego, California; and Camden Rodriguez, 22, of Longmont, Colorado.
For information about Yatco, the US authorities urged Filipinos to call the FBI 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the FBI’s Dallas Field Office at 972-559-5000.
Anonymous tips may also be submitted digitally at tips.fbi.gov or to the nearest US Embassy or consulate. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
