DOJ accuses ex-Navy officer and 4 others of participating in online extortion scheme

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed charges against a former Navy petty officer along with four other individuals for allegedly operating an online extortion network. Authorities say this group contributed to the creation of the extremist online network known as "764," which the FBI labels as a form of modern terrorism due to its violent exploitation of minors online.

An indictment unsealed on Tuesday states that the group, known as "Greggy's Cult," ran a criminal operation that pressured young online users to produce explicit content. Victims were then coerced into self-harm, abusive acts, and other degrading behaviors in front of a camera for the amusement of group members. From January 2020 to January 2021, the indictment claims, the group targeted minors on Discord and gaming platforms, sometimes instructing children as young as 11 to harm themselves or others.

The group allegedly held live sexualized events online, recording these sessions to blackmail victims into performing increasingly extreme acts. The DOJ charged 22-year-old Camden Rodriguez (Colorado), 22-year-old Rumaldo Valdez (Hawaii), 26-year-old Zachary Dosch (New Mexico), 28-year-old David Brilhante (California), and 29-year-old Hector Bermudez (New York) with ten counts including operating a child exploitation enterprise, producing child pornography, and interstate threats. Not every defendant faces all ten counts. Arrests were made across the U.S.

The federal prosecutor in Brooklyn described the actions of the group as depraved and urged parents to discuss online safety with their children.

Authorities note that members of "Greggy's Cult" later became central figures in the 764 network. Started around 20202021 by a 15-year-old in Texas, the network took inspiration from Greggy's Cult but escalated its scope and extremity. Over time, 764 evolved into a broader ideology, spawning similar offshoots worldwide that operate under different names to evade law enforcement.

FBI Director Kash Patel described 764 in Senate testimony as modern day terrorism in America. The FBI currently has over 350 active investigations connected to 764 and similar groups. Prior charges have been brought against at least 30 individuals associated with these networks, including Valdez and Dosch, who face new charges in this latest case.

Discord, where many interactions occurred, stated that it is committed to user safety and employs AI and specialized teams to detect and disrupt harmful networks. The platform shares intelligence with law enforcement, helping lead to arrests such as that of the 764 founder and other implicated members.

All five individuals named in the current indictment are scheduled to appear in federal court in New York at a later date. Responses from attorneys representing some of the defendants were not immediately available.

Author: Riley Thompson