Content Warning: The following news article contains descriptions of graphic and disturbing content, including references to child sexual abuse, self-harm, and violent acts. This material may be distressing or triggering for some readers. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
The FBI has arrested two ringleaders of the international child exploitation network known as “764,” a nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) group bent on destroying civilized society.
Leonidas Varagiannis, 21, a U.S. citizen residing in Thessaloniki, Greece, and Prasan Nepal, 20, of North Carolina, face charges for orchestrating a heinous enterprise that targeted vulnerable children as young as 13.
Varagiannis was apprehended in Greece yesterday, while Nepal was arrested on April 22, 2025, in North Carolina, with court hearings pending in Washington, D.C.
If convicted, the defendants will face a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The group operated globally, including in Washington, D.C., using encrypted messaging platforms to coordinate their activities.
The arrests were announced by Interim Attorney Ed Martin, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and FBI Assistant Directors Steven Jensen and Christopher Raia.
“The allegations in this case are not only disturbing, they are also every parent’s nightmare” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “The number of victims allegedly exploited by these defendants, and the depths of depravity are staggering. Justice demands that our response be swift in order to ensure public safety, hold the wrongdoers accountable, and bring the victims some sense of closure so they can heal.”
“These defendants are accused of orchestrating one of the most heinous online child exploitation enterprises we have ever encountered – a network built on terror, abuse, and the deliberate targeting of children,” said Attorney General Bondi. “We will find those who exploit and abuse children, prosecute them, and dismantle every part of their operation.”
The 764 network allegedly targeted vulnerable minors, often girls with mental health challenges, grooming them to produce and share sexually explicit content and engage in self-harm.
This material was compiled into “Lorebooks,” which were shared within the group’s private channels, such as “764 Inferno,” to gain notoriety and recruit new members.
The affidavit details horrific acts, including coercing victims to cut the names of 764 members into their bodies, set themselves on fire, or harm their pets and siblings.
WARNING: Graphic Image
Nepal, a resident of High Point, North Carolina, has been involved with 764 since its inception around 2020 or 2021, emerging as a leader after the arrest of the group’s founder in August 2021.
Varagiannis, a U.S. citizen residing in Thessaloniki, Greece, joined in December 2023 and quickly rose to a leadership role. Both defendants are accused of directing group members to produce and distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and providing instructions on grooming and extorting victims.
The complaint highlights several minor victims, ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers, who were subjected to sexual exploitation and abuse.
For instance, one victim, a 13-year-old girl, was allegedly coerced by Varagiannis into performing sexually explicit acts over a live video feed.
Other victims were manipulated into producing videos and images of self-harm and sexual acts, which were then shared within the 764 network.
The FBI’s investigation revealed the defendants’ use of multiple online aliases and platforms to evade detection.
Nepal used monikers like “Leather Jacket,” “Rebirth,” and “KingKrampus,” while Varagiannis operated under names like “mercyisweak” and “sinisterfuck.”
Digital evidence, including IP addresses, subscriber records, and seized devices, linked the defendants to their online activities.
The 764 network’s tactics also extended to real-world violence, including property destruction, animal abuse, and physical assaults.
The group frequently changed names and platforms to avoid law enforcement, but its core methods and goals remained consistent.
Read the criminal complaint below:
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