Healthcare executive faces child pornography charges after alleged unlawful recordings in Tysons

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. - A Falls Church healthcare executive has been charged after authorities say he unlawfully recorded multiple victims, including a juvenile, in the Tysons area.

What we know:

Police responded around 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 16 and Aug. 17 to the 1900 block of Chain Bridge Road for reports of unlawful filming. Detectives learned an unknown man used his cellphone to record three victims, two 18‑year‑old women and a 16‑year‑old girl, while they visited several stores in the area.

In one instance, police said a victim and family member confronted the man, but he ran before officers arrived.

Investigators used Automated License Plate Reader technology to identify the suspect as 44‑year‑old Shawn Gremminger. He was arrested August 27 at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

"When we're able to use that technology to harness right down to a person that's going to a car, a license plate at a car, and then able to quickly identify them with the help of our real-time crime center, it's invaluable, it's invaluable — that led to a search warrant immediately," said Fairfax County Police Captain Jesse Katzman.

Gremminger, president and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchasers Coalition, was charged with two counts of unlawful creation of an image of another, unlawful creation of an image of a juvenile, production of child pornography and 30 counts of possession of child pornography. 

Gremminger is being held without bond, and is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on December 2.

Dig deeper:

Officers said there were at least eight victims. A search of Gremminger’s electronic devices uncovered evidence of at least five other victims, all of whom are adults who have been notified. 

"When people pay attention to suspicious activity, somebody sees something that's not right, report it," said Captain Katzman. "That is by far the best message we can take away from this."

Following the arrest, the National Alliance’s Board of Governors named Chief of Staff Jenny Goins interim president and CEO effective September 4, saying the former CEO’s legal matters are personal and unrelated to the organization’s work. Leaders say programs and coalition support will continue without interruption.

"The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions’ Board of Governors took immediate action to fire the former president and CEO, who is facing criminal charges unrelated to the organization’s members, funders, finances, programs or operations," the company said in a statement.

Detectives are asking anyone with information or who believes they may have been a victim to contact the Major Crimes Bureau at 703‑246‑7800, option 3, or the Crime Solvers tip line at 866‑411‑8477.

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