A 23-year-old New York man allegedly affiliated with 764 was arrested and charged with receiving child sexual abuse material. Aaron Corey of Albany, N.Y., faces up to 20 years in prison for trafficking CSAM during a three-month period ending in December.
Corey, also known as “Baggeth,” is accused of running multiple 764-related chats, seeking CSAM from other people affiliated with the nihilistic violent extremist collective. Investigators said they found multiple images and videos of children, some as young as 2 years old, depicting child sexual abuse on Corey’s mobile device, according to a court records.
Officials also found evidence on Corey’s computer also, including a search for “parks near me for kids” and multiple visited URLs about relationships with minors. An FBI agent investigating Corey said his online moniker was potentially derived from his attempts to get girls to place bags over their heads, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
“The 764 network is a depraved criminal group that exploits vulnerable children and revels in their abuse,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. “The very serious crimes alleged in this indictment will be aggressively prosecuted until justice is served, as the Justice Department and federal partners continue efforts to take down this violent extremist network.”
Authorities have arrested multiple members of 764 during the past year, reflecting heightened law enforcement activity targeting the violent extremist collective and other offshoots affiliated with The Com. The FBI has long been investigating the group’s use of cybercriminal tactics to carry out their crimes.
The sprawling nihilistic network of thousands of people, typically between 11 and 25 years old, engages in a growing online threat to coerce vulnerable children to produce CSAM of themselves, gore material, self mutilation, sibling abuse, animal abuse and other acts of violence.
Two alleged leaders of 764, Leonidas Varagiannis and Prasan Nepal, were arrested and charged for directing and distributing CSAM in April. The two men are accused of exploiting at least eight minor victims, some as young as 13 years old, and face charges that carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Tony Christopher Long, of California, pleaded not guilty in November to multiple charges carrying a maximum penalty up to 69 years in prison related to his alleged involvement in the nihilistic violent extremist group.
Erik Lee Madison, of Maryland, was arrested in November and is accused of victimizing at least five children this fall, including one as young as 13 at the time. His alleged criminality dates back to 2020 when he was a minor.
Alexis Aldair Chavez, of San Antonio, pleaded guilty in December to multiple crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children while acting as an administrator and leader of 8884, a splinter group of 764. He faces up to 60 years in prison.
“Preying on our nation’s children, who are among the most vulnerable members of society, is beyond comprehension,” Christopher Raia, co-deputy director of the FBI, said in a statement.
Corey was arrested Monday, appeared in federal court Tuesday and is being detained pending his next court appearance. You can read the full criminal complaint below.