A Meta engineering manager who worked on products described as “digital experiences for kids” has been arrested in Manhattan after authorities said he admitted during an undercover sting operation that he exchanged sexually explicit messages with a person he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
Josh Felker, 44, was arrested after an encounter with Predator Poachers Long Island, an online group that says it works to expose suspected child predators.
The group allegedly used a decoy account posing as a teenage girl before confronting Felker outside his Murray Hill apartment.
Police later arrested him and charged him with disseminating indecent material to minors and endangering the welfare of a child.
Felker pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and is scheduled to return to court Sept. 9.
According to reports, the interaction began in May when Felker allegedly contacted the group’s decoy account.
Investigators and the group allege that Felker sent sexually explicit messages, photos, and videos during the exchange and attempted to instruct the person he believed was a minor to engage in sexual behavior.
The New York Post reported that Felker allegedly attempted to arrange an in-person meeting with the decoy.
The confrontation was recorded by Predator Poachers Long Island and later shared by the group.
During the encounter, Felker allegedly sat down with members of the group and discussed the online communications.
According to reports, he acknowledged that he believed he had been communicating with a 13-year-old and expressed concern that his family would discover the allegations.
During a phone conversation arranged by the group with someone posing as the girl’s grandmother, Felker allegedly apologized for his actions and made statements about his behavior.
Reports said he referenced his religious upbringing and admitted during the conversation that he had engaged in similar conduct previously with another underage girl.
The allegations remain part of the criminal case against him.
The Post reported that Felker’s LinkedIn profile, which has since been removed, identified him as an engineering manager at Meta who worked on “digital experiences for kids.”
Meta confirmed that Felker had been placed on leave and said the company would cooperate with law enforcement.
After the confrontation, police were contacted, and Felker was arrested.
According to reports, members of the group provided law enforcement with records of the alleged communications, including digital evidence related to the online exchange.
Felker was charged under New York law with disseminating indecent material to minors and endangering the welfare of a child, according to BizPac Review.
Under New York law, disseminating indecent material to minors can carry felony penalties depending on the circumstances, while endangering the welfare of a child involves knowingly engaging in conduct likely to harm a child’s physical, mental, or moral welfare.
Prosecutors do not have to show that actual physical harm occurred for the child endangerment charge to apply, Hoodline reported.
The case comes as private online groups that conduct sting operations targeting alleged child predators continue to draw attention.
Critics of such operations have raised questions about their role in criminal investigations, while supporters argue they help identify individuals who might otherwise avoid detection.
Felker’s case remains pending, and the allegations against him have not been proven in court.
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