FBI Cracks Down on “764” Child-Exploitation Network Targeting Kids Online

The FBI has launched a nationwide crackdown on a disturbing online child‑exploitation network known as “764,” which authorities say preys on minors as young as 11 through popular digital platforms like Discord, Roblox, and Telegram.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino revealed the operation in a Wednesday post, describing the network as a violent and coordinated digital ring that pressures children into self‑harm, sexual abuse, animal torture, and extremist acts and said federal agents are now running more than 300 active investigations tied to the group.

“The 764 Network is a heinous child‑exploitation ring,” Bongino said. “We have more than 300 investigations connected to this network nationwide, and that number is growing. It is a top priority.”

Unlike isolated incidents of online predation, authorities say the 764 group operates more like an organized cult that recruits vulnerable minors by infiltrating youth‑heavy online spaces, then coercing them into increasingly extreme behavior using threats, blackmail, and psychological manipulation.

The network traces back to Bradley “Felix” Cadenhead, a Texas teen who founded the group in 2021 as an offshoot of his faction “CVLT.” The name “764” refers to the ZIP code of his hometown. Over time, it expanded into a broader web of extremist communities known as "The COM.”

Two recent arrests show how far the network has spread:

• In Baltimore, agents arrested a suspect accused of targeting five minors, including a 13‑year‑old.

• In Arizona, a federal indictment alleged an affiliate targeted nine kids ages 11 to 15, including distributing child pornography, cyberstalking, animal abuse, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

Some children involved were allegedly pressured to kill pets, harm themselves on camera, or perform sexual acts all while group members celebrated the abuse for entertainment.

While shocking, this is part of a rising national trend. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, reports of online exploitation against minors increased over 40% between 2021 and 2023, with predators increasingly using gaming platforms and encrypted messaging apps to reach underage victims.

This is no longer fringe internet behavior it’s a coordinated subculture exploiting digital anonymity to reach children where they spend most of their time.

Bongino issued a direct warning to parents:

“Please be on guard. Check in with your kids and monitor their internet usage. Consider safeguards that limit what these networks can access.”

He said the FBI is working “day and night” to dismantle the network and expects more arrests.

Whether parents realize it or not, children are being targeted in the places they assume are safe gaming chats, YouTube comment threads, school Discord servers, TikTok DMs, and private message platforms that allow minors to hide conversations from adults.

Online predators aren’t hiding in the shadows anymore they’re networking, recruiting, and organizing.

The FBI may be stepping up, but the first line of defense is still at home.

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