Two Arrested in Connection to Disturbing Online Child Abuse Network "764"
The U.S. and international law enforcement have apprehended two individuals allegedly linked to "764," an online community described as a violent extremist network focused on child abuse and psychological terror.
Leonidas Varagiannis, 21, known as "War," was arrested in Thessaloniki, Greece, on April 30th. Prasan Nepal, 20, alias "Trippy," was taken into custody in North Carolina about a week prior.
Authorities accuse both men of running "764 Inferno," considered the central part of the operation, which utilized platforms like Telegram and Discord. Court documents indicate the group's goals were not only criminal but also accelerationist, aiming to disrupt society through fear and abuse, with children as their primary targets.
Investigators allege that Varagiannis and Nepal led efforts to groom and coerce minors into producing explicit content, sometimes through threats and manipulation, including forcing victims to perform disturbing rituals like self-harm and animal abuse. This content, called "Lorebooks," allegedly served as a form of digital currency within the group.
The network is described as self-sustaining, with leaders allegedly teaching grooming techniques and setting content quotas. The psychological manipulation was reportedly systematic and sadistic. At least eight minors, as young as 13, are known to have been exploited, with the potential for more victims.
The FBI and DOJ state that the arrested individuals were leaders of the network, with the abuse spanning from 2020 to early 2025. If convicted, they could face life in prison.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, "This isn’t just a case of online abuse. This was a fully-fledged network built on terror and trauma. We’re committed to dismantling every part of it."
The arrests were part of "Project Safe Childhood," a DOJ initiative against online child exploitation, involving the FBI and Hellenic National Police. The case highlights the network's alleged mimicry of organized crime structures, with trauma as their "trade."
Varagiannis and Nepal are expected to face legal proceedings in Washington, D.C. The case is considered one of the most disturbing examples of online exploitation to date.
