Federal agents in the United States have taken 82-year-old Thomas Markle into custody following serious allegations involving illegal digital media. According to the US Justice Department, the father of Meghan Markle faces a federal count of possessing child sexual abuse material.

The Arrest and Charges

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced the charge against Mr. Markle, as reported by Business Recorder. First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli stated, according to the same outlet, that the suspect is accused of possessing illicit photographs depicting himself alongside minor girls, adding that authorities intend to pursue full prosecution under federal law.

Business Recorder noted that the Federal Bureau of Investigation carried out the arrest at a senior living community located in Lakeland, Florida. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Meghan Markle did not offer an immediate response when approached for comment, according to the report.

Background

Reporting from The Daily Mail detailed that investigators recovered questionable material from a storage unit in Mexico as well as the Philippines. Authorities within the Philippines initiated inquiries regarding the allegations last month, having previously hosted Mr. Markle as a resident for a period of time. Additionally, British law enforcement stated last month that they planned to hand over intelligence concerning him to international agencies after discovering those claims had not been previously forwarded abroad, as cited by Business Recorder.

What's next

According to Business Recorder, the accused is scheduled to make a court appearance in Tampa.