One of the top priorities of the FBI under Director Kash Patel’s leadership has been to target the dangerous child exploitative “764 Network,” where some counterterrorism experts have described the actions taken by leaders and other members as worse than what you’d see from ISIS.
During a Congressional hearing in September, Patel referred to the group as examples of “modern-day terrorism in America,” saying, “these are crimes that involve harming our children by going after them online—causing self-mutilation, suicide, sexual abuse.”
Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino took to X on Wednesday to provide an update on some of the cases the FBI has been working on. Some of the details are deeply disturbing:
For those who may not know, the 764 Network is a heinous child exploitation ring that often targets children online and coerces them into acts of violence – self harm, animal abuse, suicide, and sexual abuse. At the beginning of the year, our teams redoubled our efforts to go after these networks and eliminate them. We have more than 300 investigations connected to this network going on nationwide, as we speak, and that number is growing. It is a top priority for us.Out of @FBIBaltimore – recently our teams worked with partners to arrest an individual who had allegedly targeted 5 victims – one as young as 13. The individual is now in federal custody, and we expect more information to be released on this case soon.
According to the DOJ press release put out late last week on that case, “a federal grand jury returned an indictment, charging Erik Lee Madison, 20, of Halethorpe, Maryland, with three counts of sexual exploitation of a child, three counts of coercion and enticement of a child, and one count of cyberstalking. Law enforcement arrested Madison pursuant to a criminal complaint on November 6, 2025.”
Bongino also shared information regarding an Arizona case that led to an arrest:
Out of Arizona – recently, we had another case – where an indictment revealed an individual in federal custody had been found allegedly targeting kids as an affiliate of 764. The 9 victims involved were between 11-15 years old. Some of the allegations involve distributing child pornography, cyberstalking, animal crushing, and even conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.
The late October press release from the DOJ on that case revealed some of the sickening details:
A federal grand jury in the District of Arizona has returned a 29-count superseding indictment against Baron Cain Martin, known online as “Convict” (among other monikers), 21, of Tucson, Arizona. The superseding indictment charges Martin with participating in a child exploitation enterprise, conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, conspiring to kill, kidnap or maim persons in a foreign country, producing child pornography (five counts), distributing child pornography (11 counts), coercing and enticing minors to engage in sexual activity (three counts), cyberstalking (three counts), animal crushing and distribution of animal crush videos, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Martin has been in federal custody since his arrest on federal charges on December 11, 2024.
“This man’s alleged crimes are unthinkably depraved and reflect the horrific danger of 764 — if convicted, he will face severe consequences as we work to dismantle this evil network,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “I urge parents to remain vigilant about the threats their children face online.”
ABC News has done some pretty extensive investigative reporting on the group, filing this report last Tuesday:
On Friday, the FBI arrested a 21-year-old man in New Jersey who, according to authorities, had taken a bizarre mix of concerning actions tied to the online extremist network known as 764: He allegedly tried to blackmail teenage girls into sending him sexually explicit images of themselves, while also planning to launch ISIS-style terrorist attacks inside the United States, even allegedly stockpiling zip ties, body armor, ski masks, and books about bombmaking at his home.
Three weeks ago, Seattle-area mother Leslie Taylor wept as she and her husband visited the cemetery that now holds the ashes of their son Jay, a 13-year-old who livestreamed his suicide after authorities say he was pushed to do it by members of 764.
And four months earlier, inside a Detroit courtroom, a federal prosecutor nearly broke down in tears telling a judge — in vivid detail — about the brutal and gruesome videos of animal torture that another 764 member had allegedly promoted online.
Some on social media have tried to downplay the group’s activities. The FBI isn’t having any of it:
In March, the FBI put out a public service announcement that advised family, friends, and caregivers of what to look for as “potential indicators and warning signs” that a child has been targeted. The tips included:
You can read the full list here.
– Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via X. –
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