An alleged child predator who prosecutors say was fixated on terrorist content is asking a court to toss crucial evidence over legal technicalities.
The FBI conducted illegal warrantless searches when investigating Pennsylvania man Aniruth Kuppusamy for allegedly manufacturing and possessing child pornography and sexually enticing a minor, his lawyer said in an Aug. 14 motion to suppress evidence. Kuppusamy also promoted the designated global terrorist group Terrorgram, which encourages randomized mass casualty attacks, and claimed to be personally connected to the group in discussions with his alleged victim, prosecutors claim. Biden-appointed U.S. Judge Mary Kay Costello scheduled an Oct. 1 hearing to assess the defense’s motion.
Kuppusamy became the FBI’s target in an investigation related to “nihilistic violent extremism,” a growing terrorist threat that the bureau says is driven by online groups glorifying violence and child sexual abuse. He faces between 15 years and life in prison if convicted on all charges, but if Costello rules in his favor, it could effectively neuter the case.
In response to disturbing online activity, the FBI obtained all of Kuppusamy’s private messages with fellow Meta account users “for at least a six month period” in March 2025 after asking Meta without a judicial warrant, the defense alleged. That led the FBI to arrest Kuppusamy and enter his home that week — minutes before a magistrate judge signed off on its warrants, according to the motion. Additionally, an FBI affidavit used to apply for a warrant left out key information that would have persuaded the judge not to approve the raid, including the fact that Kuppusamy’s parents lived at the residence, the defense claimed.
Kuppusamy’s 117-page motion argued that evidence stemming from the Meta request, the home search, and his arrest was illegally obtained and must be thrown out. The motion added that his post-arrest statements and a later search of his Instagram accounts “must be suppressed as fruits of these unconstitutional searches.”
The DOJ did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment. Prosecutors have not yet filed a response to the defense’s claims.
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A federal magistrate judge ordered Kuppusamy detained before trial in March 2025 after the DOJ argued his alleged interactions with the minor and affiliation with Terrorgram made him dangerous.
“The evidence against the Defendant is strong, consisting not only of his communications with the Victim but also evidence found on his cell phone,” the DOJ wrote.