Eric T. Gillespie, the 57-year-old founder and chairman of Govini — a Pittsburgh-based software firm with major contracts with the Pentagon and other federal agencies — has been arrested and hit with four felony charges for allegedly attempting to solicit sexual contact with a preteen girl.
According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office, Gillespie was caught in an undercover sting operation targeting online child predators. An agent posing as an adult on a chat platform — commonly used by those seeking to exploit minors — was able to identify Gillespie, who was allegedly using a pseudonym to arrange a meeting for illegal sexual purposes in Lebanon County.
Gillespie, a South Side Pittsburgh resident, built Govini into a high-profile firm known for helping U.S. agencies integrate artificial intelligence and data analytics into national security decision-making. The company has raked in millions in contracts from the Department of Defense and Homeland Security and reported over $100 million in annual revenue.
Following the arrest, Govini issued a statement placing Gillespie on administrative leave and pledging full cooperation with law enforcement. The company emphasized it holds all employees to “the highest ethical standards” and acknowledged the seriousness of the charges.
A judge denied Gillespie bail, citing him as a flight risk and a danger to the community. He has denied the allegations, according to the Attorney General’s office.
The arrest has sent shockwaves through Pittsburgh’s tech and defense contracting circles. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information to come forward and reaffirmed their commitment to aggressively targeting those who seek to harm children online.
