The FBI has intensified its efforts to dismantle the 764 network, an online child exploitation ring that preys on minors aged 11-15, distributing child pornography and coercing them into violent acts. In recent actions, agents arrested suspects in Baltimore and Arizona, with charges involving the manipulation of children and the production of explicit content. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino emphasized the severity of the threat, noting the network’s expansion into platforms like Discord and Roblox, and urging parents to monitor their children’s online activities.
Among the latest cases, Bongino said agents from FBI Baltimore arrested an individual on charges of targeting five minors, including a 13-year-old. He said the suspect is now in federal custody, and additional details are expected as the investigation develops. Meanwhile, in Arizona, an indictment revealed an individual in federal custody had been found allegedly targeting kids as an affiliate of “764.” The nine victims involved were between 11 and 15 years old, with allegations including distributing child pornography, cyberstalking, animal crushing, and even conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.
The “764” network traces back to 2021, when it was founded by Bradley “Felix” Cadenhead, a Texas teenager who operated a group called CVLT. Named after the ZIP code of Cadenhead’s hometown, “764” now exists within a broader ecosystem of violent online communities known as “The COM.” Members allegedly use popular online preteen and teen platforms such as Discord, Telegram, and Roblox to recruit and manipulate minors. Bongino warned that this is a major issue in America that not enough people know about and urged parents to be on guard, check in with their kids, and monitor their internet usage. The FBI will “keep working day and night to destroy this network. It is a top priority. We are making progress, but the work isn’t done.”