Summary:
Leonidas Valagiannis, 21, from Greece, and Prasan Nepal, 20, from North Carolina, have been arrested for their alleged roles in a violent extremist network known as "764," which focuses on child exploitation. Valagiannis was apprehended in Greece, while Nepal was arrested in April 2025 and has since appeared in court. Both are awaiting a hearing in Washington, D.C.
The network, as described in a District of Columbia affidavit, exploits minors for creating child sexual abuse material (CSAM) by employing tactics like grooming and threats. The defendants allegedly oversaw a subgroup called "764 Inferno," directed criminal activities through encrypted messaging, and coerced victims into self-harm while producing explicit content.
Federal prosecutors have highlighted the disturbing nature of the charges, indicating the exploitation of at least eight minor victims and the use of CSAM as digital currency within the network. The FBI is actively investigating the case alongside various law enforcement agencies, aiming to dismantle such violent networks targeting vulnerable children.
Officials emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue and restoring justice for victims, stressing that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This case is part of the broader Project Safe Childhood initiative aimed at combating child exploitation.
