Online extremist groups exploit and extort minors
A year-long international police operation, targeting online child sexual exploitation rings including the neo-Nazi network '764', resulted in 60 arrests and the rescue of 65 child victims as of April 23, 2026. As of April 23, 2026, the '764' network, which emerged in 2021 from the CVLT network and operates on platforms like Discord, Telegram, Roblox, and Minecraft, is reportedly targeting young adolescents online for recruitment, encouraging violent acts including sextortion, self-harm, suicide, mass killings, and animal abuse, with investigations ongoing across all FBI field offices in the United States. On April 18, 2026, a Maryland man pleaded guilty to federal child sexual abuse charges linked to the '764' network, and two alleged leaders were arrested and charged with directing and distributing child sexual abuse material. The FBI has over 450 cases nationwide under investigation related to '764', which targets vulnerable children, sometimes as young as 9 years old, using manipulation, blackmail, and threats to coerce them into producing child sexual abuse material, self-harm, and animal cruelty. Canadian police reported a nearly 350% increase in online child sexual exploitation incidents over a ten-year period, identifying '764' as a network of nihilistic violent extremists aiming to cause societal collapse.
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April 2026 — 17 developments
The neo-Nazi network '764' is reportedly targeting young adolescents online for recruitment, encouraging them to engage in violent acts, including sextortion.
The neo-Nazi network '764' is reportedly targeting young adolescents online for recruitment, encouraging them to engage in violent acts, including sextortion. The group is also linked to promoting self-harm, suicide, mass killings, and animal abuse, with investigations ongoing across all FBI field offices in the United States.
A year-long international police operation has resulted in 60 arrests and the identification and res…
A year-long international police operation has resulted in 60 arrests and the identification and rescue of 65 child victims, targeting online child sexual exploitation rings including the '764' network. Law enforcement agencies globally are working to combat the group's activities, with investigations suggesting the network emerged in 2021 from the CVLT network and operates on platforms like Discord, Telegram, Roblox, and Minecraft.
A Maryland man pleaded guilty to federal child sexual abuse charges linked to the violent extremist group '764'.
A Maryland man pleaded guilty to federal child sexual abuse charges linked to the violent extremist group '764'. Two alleged leaders of the '764' network were also arrested and charged with directing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
Canadian police reported a nearly 350% increase in online child sexual exploitation incidents over a ten-year period.
Canadian police reported a nearly 350% increase in online child sexual exploitation incidents over a ten-year period. Law enforcement agencies have identified '764' as a network of nihilistic violent extremists aiming to cause societal collapse through the exploitation of vulnerable populations, including minors, linking the group to acts of violence such as bomb threats and animal cruelty.
The Justice Department announced nationwide arrests and charges against individuals involved in onli…
The Justice Department announced nationwide arrests and charges against individuals involved in online child exploitation schemes, including leaders and members of the extremist group '764'. These charges include racketeering and sexual exploitation, with arrests made in Maryland, Texas, and Florida.
An Adelaide man was charged in April 2026 with online grooming and selling child abuse material, allegedly coercing a teenager into creating such content.
An Adelaide man was charged in April 2026 with online grooming and selling child abuse material, allegedly coercing a teenager into creating such content. This case is part of a broader concern about online child exploitation beyond the "764" network, which is described as a violent online extremist group internationally targeting children through grooming and coercion into creating explicit content for blackmail.
A man in Quebec has been charged with terrorism offenses for allegedly promoting the ideology of the "764" network and attempting to recruit teenagers online.
A man in Quebec has been charged with terrorism offenses for allegedly promoting the ideology of the "764" network and attempting to recruit teenagers online. An associate of the "764" network was also charged with multiple counts of child exploitation, coercion, and cyberstalking, while a member pleaded guilty to racketeering and child exploitation charges.
The FBI and Atlanta Police Department have issued warnings about the extremist group 764's activities, with Atlanta police investigating five cases linked to the group.
The FBI and Atlanta Police Department have issued warnings about the extremist group 764's activities, with Atlanta police investigating five cases linked to the group. Incidents in Atlanta have included bomb threats and animal cruelty, with graffiti related to "764" found at crime scenes. The group targets vulnerable children, sometimes as young as 9 years old, using manipulation, blackmail, and threats to coerce them into producing child sexual abuse material, self-harm, and animal cruelty.
The FBI has issued a warning about the global online sextortion and violent extremist group '764' that targets minors, with over 450 cases nationwide under investigation.
The FBI has issued a warning about the global online sextortion and violent extremist group '764' that targets minors, with over 450 cases nationwide under investigation. Recent developments include a Michigan man sentenced to 40 years for exploiting children, a Dutch man receiving a 10-year sentence for sextortion, and an Arunachal Pradesh police rescue of a teenager from online grooming. The UN also warned of escalating AI threats to children, including fake explicit images.
A man in Virginia was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison for sexually exploiting children online, admitting to using Discord to purchase content from underage girls.
A man in Virginia was sentenced to 156 months in federal prison for sexually exploiting children online, admitting to using Discord to purchase content from underage girls. This case is related to broader investigations into online child abuse networks like "764."
The FBI is investigating the '764' network, now described as a nihilistic violent extremist group li…
The FBI is investigating the '764' network, now described as a nihilistic violent extremist group linked to domestic terrorism, with over 450 cases currently under investigation nationwide. This network targets vulnerable individuals, particularly minors, through manipulation and coercion, leading to cases across North America.
In March 2026, Alexis Aldair Chavez pleaded guilty to racketeering and child exploitation charges as a leader within a subgroup related to the '764' network.
In March 2026, Alexis Aldair Chavez pleaded guilty to racketeering and child exploitation charges as a leader within a subgroup related to the '764' network. In April 2025, alleged leaders Leonidas Varagiannis and Prasan Nepal were arrested and charged with operating an international child exploitation enterprise. The FBI is investigating the '764' group for its alleged involvement in a sextortion ring targeting minors.
Federal authorities arrested Matthew Edward Pysher and Bryant Najera Gonzalez, alleged members of th…
Federal authorities arrested Matthew Edward Pysher and Bryant Najera Gonzalez, alleged members of the '764' sextortion network, with Pysher accused of sexually assaulting a minor and Gonzalez of coercing minors to create CSAM. The FBI also warned of the network's use of cybercriminal tactics like SIM swapping and IP grabbing to commit violent crimes.
The European Commission is investigating Snapchat due to concerns about children's exposure to grooming and sexual exploitation on the platform.
The European Commission is investigating Snapchat due to concerns about children's exposure to grooming and sexual exploitation on the platform. This follows an FBI warning about the '764' network, which exploits children for sexual abuse material and violent acts. A report released on March 18, 2026, indicates a 14% surge in AI-generated child sexual abuse material online during 2025.
The FBI is investigating 250 individuals linked to the '764' network, a decrease from previous figures.
The FBI is investigating 250 individuals linked to the '764' network, a decrease from previous figures. In 2024, CyberTipline reports connected to groups like '764' saw a more than 200% increase from 2023. Child protection advocates are calling for increased action due to a global rise in technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse of children, with AI-generated child sexual abuse material increasing by 14% in 2025.
The FBI is investigating over 350 individuals nationwide tied to violent online networks known as '7…
The FBI is investigating over 350 individuals nationwide tied to violent online networks known as '764,' which coerce children into producing and sharing harmful content through threats and manipulation. In March 2026, an international police operation "Operation Eclipse" resulted in 60 arrests for child sexual offenses and the rescue of 65 child victims across nine countries. In February 2026, a Norwegian girl was reportedly exploited by four leaders of the '764' network, with two identified in England and Israel, and one arrested.
An international operation involving over 35 countries has shut down "Kidflix," a global child sexua…
An international operation involving over 35 countries has shut down "Kidflix," a global child sexual exploitation platform, resulting in 79 arrests and the identification of nearly 1,400 suspects. The FBI is investigating the "764" network, a nihilistic extremist group that grooms and extorts minors into self-harm and sexual activity.
March 2026 — 1 developments
Erik Lee Madison pleaded guilty in March 2026 to the sexual exploitation of at least 10 girls, forci…
Erik Lee Madison pleaded guilty in March 2026 to the sexual exploitation of at least 10 girls, forcing them to create content and harm themselves, and was identified as a member of the '764' network. This plea follows earlier developments in February 2026, including a peace bond issued by the RCMP on a youth in New Brunswick and charges against a Pennsylvanian member for raping a 13-year-old girl.
February 2026 — 5 developments
A Europol-coordinated operation in February 2026 led to 30 arrests and identified 179 suspects linke…
A Europol-coordinated operation in February 2026 led to 30 arrests and identified 179 suspects linked to 'The Com,' an online cybercrime collective that includes the subgroup '764,' known for grooming and extorting minors. In May 2025, two alleged leaders of '764,' Leonidas Varagiannis and Prasan Nepal, were arrested and charged for their roles in facilitating the exploitation of minors.
Baron Cain Martin, an alleged leader of the violent online extremist network '764', faces 29 federal…
Baron Cain Martin, an alleged leader of the violent online extremist network '764', faces 29 federal counts for allegedly authoring a guide on grooming and extorting juvenile victims, particularly those with mental health issues. The indictment claims the guide instructed members on how to blackmail victims for extreme violence and self-mutilation videos.
Matthew Edward Pysher, 18, was arrested and federally charged for allegedly grooming a 13-year-old g…
Matthew Edward Pysher, 18, was arrested and federally charged for allegedly grooming a 13-year-old girl to send him explicit material and self-harm images, and luring her to a motel. The FBI is investigating over 450 similar cases nationwide, indicating a rapidly growing threat associated with the '764' network.
The FBI has opened investigations into 250 individuals affiliated with the online group '764', which exploits minors and encourages self-harm.
The FBI has opened investigations into 250 individuals affiliated with the online group '764', which exploits minors and encourages self-harm. In a separate development, a youth in New Brunswick was placed on a peace bond after ties to the '764 Network' were revealed by the RCMP, who allege the youth promoted the group's violent ideology and recruitment efforts.
Federal authorities expressed significant concern over the rise of the global '764' sextortion cult,…
Federal authorities expressed significant concern over the rise of the global '764' sextortion cult, which targets minors and engages in torture, with the FBI classifying it as a 'tier one' threat. [cite: Source URL]
January 2026 — 1 developments
The Department of Homeland Security highlighted '764' as one of the most frequently mentioned 'Com' …
The Department of Homeland Security highlighted '764' as one of the most frequently mentioned 'Com' networks, noting its creation in 2021 and the emergence of many subgroups under its umbrella. The report emphasized that these communities often involve peer-on-peer crimes among children.
December 2025 — 3 developments
The FBI is now investigating over 350 individuals connected to the '764' network, an online group that coerces minors into violence, self-harm, and sexual exploitation.
The FBI is now investigating over 350 individuals connected to the '764' network, an online group that coerces minors into violence, self-harm, and sexual exploitation. Two alleged leaders of the network, Leonidas Varagiannis and Prasan Nepal, have been arrested and charged.
The FBI referred to '764' as a 'new form of modern-day terrorism' targeting children online, exploit…
The FBI referred to '764' as a 'new form of modern-day terrorism' targeting children online, exploiting them for violent and sexual content, and blackmailing them into self-mutilation or other violent acts, often streamed online.
Canada officially designated '764' and the 'Maniac Murder Cult' as terrorist entities, citing growing international concern over Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE).
Canada officially designated '764' and the 'Maniac Murder Cult' as terrorist entities, citing growing international concern over Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE). New Zealand also took similar action against related groups.
November 2025 — 1 developments
Erik Lee Madison, a member of the violent extremist network '764', has been charged with multiple counts including sexual exploitation of a child and cyberstalking.
Erik Lee Madison, a member of the violent extremist network '764', has been charged with multiple counts including sexual exploitation of a child and cyberstalking. Additionally, Alexis Aldair Chavez, another member of '764', has pleaded guilty to racketeering activity and charges related to the sexual exploitation of children.
May 2025 — 2 developments
The FBI opened investigations into 250 individuals affiliated with the online group '764' in May 202…
The FBI opened investigations into 250 individuals affiliated with the online group '764' in May 2025, which exploits and coerces minors into creating explicit material and engaging in self-harm. In April 2025, alleged leaders Leonidas Varagiannis and Prasan Nepal were arrested and charged with operating an international child exploitation enterprise known as '764 Inferno.' The group has been noted for using cybercriminal tactics like SIM swapping and IP grabbing to commit violent crimes.
The FBI revealed it was investigating 250 individuals affiliated with '764' and similar networks, with all 55 field offices involved.
The FBI revealed it was investigating 250 individuals affiliated with '764' and similar networks, with all 55 field offices involved. The agency warned of the network's violent, predatory behavior targeting vulnerable individuals.
April 2025 — 1 developments
Leonidas Varagiannis and Prasan Nepal, identified as leaders of a '764' subgroup called '764 Inferno…
Leonidas Varagiannis and Prasan Nepal, identified as leaders of a '764' subgroup called '764 Inferno', were arrested and charged with operating an international child exploitation enterprise. They allegedly directed victims to commit self-harm and engaged in extreme violence.
March 2025 — 1 developments
Canadian police identified the first official '764' case in Canada, arresting a 14-year-old.
Canadian police identified the first official '764' case in Canada, arresting a 14-year-old. The RCMP began to consider '764' a terror threat, noting its members prowl popular platforms to lure minors into private groups for exploitation and self-harm.
August 2024 — 1 developments
U.S. Senator Mark Warner pressed Discord about its failure to safeguard minors and prevent the proli…
U.S. Senator Mark Warner pressed Discord about its failure to safeguard minors and prevent the proliferation of violent predatory groups, in response to the FBI's bulletin on '764'.
July 2024 — 1 developments
The RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador issued a news release warning parents about online groups, including '764', after an anonymous tip about a child being targeted.
The RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador issued a news release warning parents about online groups, including '764', after an anonymous tip about a child being targeted.
January 2024 — 1 developments
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline received over 1,300 reports co…
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline received over 1,300 reports connected to groups like '764', a more than 200% increase from the previous year, indicating a significant rise in reported incidents.
September 2023 — 1 developments
The FBI issued its first public bulletin warning about the '764' network, classifying it as a 'tier one' threat due to its potential impact on national and economic security.
The FBI issued its first public bulletin warning about the '764' network, classifying it as a 'tier one' threat due to its potential impact on national and economic security.
January 2023 — 1 developments
Bradley Chance Cadenhead, the founder of '764', was arrested and sentenced to 80 years in prison.
Bradley Chance Cadenhead, the founder of '764', was arrested and sentenced to 80 years in prison. However, the network continued to operate with other individuals taking leadership roles.
January 2021 — 2 developments
Discord identified '764' and its users, reporting them to law enforcement.
Discord identified '764' and its users, reporting them to law enforcement. The platform has since invested in moderation tools and techniques to disrupt the group's activities.
The '764' network emerged, founded by then-15-year-old Bradley Cadenhead, who learned exploitation techniques on a Discord server.
The '764' network emerged, founded by then-15-year-old Bradley Cadenhead, who learned exploitation techniques on a Discord server. The group initially focused on sextortion and distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), drawing inspiration from earlier networks like 'CVLT'.