USB Drive Exposes Decades-Long Predator Trail

A single USB drive allegedly exposed decades of predator behavior spanning nine countries—raising urgent questions about how adults in “trusted” teaching roles can evade accountability for so long.

Quick Take

French prosecutors say former educator Jacques Leveugle is charged with aggravated rape and sexual assault involving 89 minors aged 13–17.
Authorities say the alleged abuse occurred from 1967 to 2022 across Germany, Switzerland, Morocco, Niger, Algeria, the Philippines, India, Colombia, and New Caledonia.
Investigators say the case broke open after Leveugle’s nephew found a USB drive containing 15 “tomes” of detailed writings describing the alleged crimes.
Grenoble’s prosecutor publicly identified Leveugle—an unusual move in France—to encourage additional victims and witnesses to come forward; about 40 victims are identified so far.

Prosecutors describe a multinational case built from digital records

Grenoble prosecutors say Jacques Leveugle, 79, was indicted in 2024 and has remained in custody while investigators analyze extensive writings found on a USB drive. Authorities allege the material documents 89 victims and forms the backbone of a case that crosses borders and decades. Prosecutors said the alleged victims were minors between 13 and 17, and the alleged acts occurred while Leveugle worked in roles that placed him around young people.

Prosecutors say the alleged timeline stretches from 1967 through 2022, with incidents tied to Leveugle’s work as a teacher, tutor, and speleology (cave exploration) instructor. The countries listed by authorities span Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific—Germany, Switzerland, Morocco, Niger, Algeria, the Philippines, India, Colombia, and New Caledonia. That geographic spread means investigators may rely on cooperation across jurisdictions and on victims’ willingness to report.

France takes the rare step of naming a suspect to locate victims

Grenoble prosecutor Etienne Manteaux publicly named Leveugle during a February 10, 2026 briefing, saying the decision was intended to help identify victims who may not realize they are connected to the same suspect. Prosecutors described the public identification as unusual in France, and said they waited until they had verified information before going public. Authorities also said only around 40 of the 89 victims referenced in the writings have been identified so far.

That choice reflects a practical problem in long-running abuse cases: silence, distance, and time often protect offenders more than any sophisticated scheme does. When alleged crimes are scattered across decades and countries, victims may assume their experience was isolated or untouchable—especially when the alleged offender held authority as an educator. Prosecutors appear to be betting that public disclosure will prompt more witnesses to call in, narrowing the gaps left by time.

Separate murder investigations follow reported “mercy killing” confessions

Prosecutors also said Leveugle confessed to suffocating two relatives decades ago—his terminally ill mother in the 1970s and his 92-year-old aunt in the 1990s—claims investigators are treating as separate murder inquiries. Authorities relayed that Leveugle described the acts as “mercy” killings and indicated he wanted similar end-of-life treatment for himself. The available reporting does not indicate that courts have tested those admissions, and no trial outcome has been reported.

What’s known—and what remains unproven as the investigation continues

Multiple outlets reporting on prosecutors’ statements broadly agree on the core details: the number of alleged victims, the age range, the multinational list of locations, the discovery of the USB drive by a family member, and the continued detention since the 2024 indictment. The major unknowns are the identities of the remaining victims and how much corroboration exists beyond the suspect’s writings and statements. Prosecutors’ public appeal suggests investigators believe additional testimony could substantially expand or clarify the case.

JUST IN – 79-year-old French man charged with rape, sexual assault of 89 minors, prosecutors say https://t.co/I5fZq8qdbD pic.twitter.com/zH5nR7AWn5

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) February 10, 2026

For American readers, the lesson is not partisan—it’s institutional. When a society normalizes lax standards in youth-facing organizations, or treats “credentialed” adults as beyond suspicion, children pay the price. The reporting here focuses on a single accused man, but the facts described by prosecutors underscore why parents and communities insist on strict safeguarding, real vetting, and transparency—especially in environments where adults are granted authority over minors and where misconduct can hide behind distance and bureaucracy.