Mpls. Businessman, 62, Accused Of Possessing Child Pornography
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 62-year-old Minneapolis businessman has been arrested and is accused of possessing child pornography.
Gregory Matthew Dolphin, of Minneapolis, was charged Friday afternoon with one count of possession of child pornography. Dolphin is the owner of Dolphin Staffing.
According to the criminal complaint, social media companies are required to inform police when they discover their programs are being used to acquire or distribute child porn. Police say a number of these "cybertips" came to the Minneapolis Police Department on Dolphin.
Due to the cybertips, Minneapolis police were able to obtain search warrants on Dolphin's media devices, his home and his office.
While executing the search warrant Thursday, Dolphin was arrested outside his home. His cellphone, two flash drives he was carrying, and his computer were seized.
According to the criminal complaint, Dolphin was pulled out from his vehicle and there was a packed suitcase inside.
Police say that a video has already been found on one of the flash drives showing a juvenile girl being sexually abused. There were also several video and image titles on the same flash drive with titles referencing pedophilia and other search terms related to child porn. The examination of the media devices is continuing, according to the complaint.
Dolphin allegedly admitted in a post-Miranda statement that he was aware of the child porn on his computer.
He is expected to make his first court appearance Monday where prosecutors will seek a bail of $100,000.
The Dolphin Group Companies released a statement Friday:
"Greg Dolphin, retired CEO of Dolphin Fast Food, Inc. was charged by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office on March 31st on suspicion of possessing child pornography on his computer.
"All restaurants previously owned by Dolphin Fast Food were sold in 2016 and, as a result, Dolphin Fast Food was dissolved at year-end. While Greg Dolphin remains a minority shareholder in some of the other Dolphin operating companies, he has been semi-retired since May of last year and does not have a management role in any Dolphin company. The allegations involving Greg are personal in nature, do not involve the Dolphin companies and will not impact the operations or financial strength of the various Dolphin companies.
"Greg was diagnosed by the Mayo Clinic in June of last year with frontotemporal degeneration, a progressive brain disease that can result in changes in personality, impaired judgment and impulsive behaviors. Since that diagnosis, the Dolphin family has taken steps to assist Greg in his care. Obviously, we are shocked and saddened by these allegations involving his personal behavior. As a company, we are conducting our own investigation and cooperating with the authorities. As his family, we will provide Greg with our loving support and whatever additional assistance he may need. We would ask that people respect the family's need for healing at this time."
