In a sweeping international law enforcement operation, U.S. authorities have announced the arrests of two American citizens accused of leading one of the most disturbing online child exploitation networks ever uncovered. The group, known as “764,” operated under a dark ideology rooted in violent extremism and the deliberate targeting of children to destabilize society.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Leonidas Varagiannis, 21, a dual U.S.-Greek citizen residing in Thessaloniki, Greece, and Prasan Nepal, 20, of North Carolina, were both taken into custody for their alleged roles as ringleaders of the 764 network. Varagiannis was arrested Tuesday in Greece, while Nepal was apprehended in North Carolina on April 22, 2025. Both are awaiting court proceedings in Washington, D.C.
The charges stem from a years-long investigation that uncovered horrifying tactics used by the group to exploit and abuse children across the globe. Prosecutors say Varagiannis and Nepal led a central subgroup called “764 Inferno,” which coordinated its operations through encrypted messaging platforms. Together, they allegedly directed the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), manipulated minors into acts of self-harm and violence, and created a digital ecosystem where abuse was used as currency.
Authorities say the group recruited vulnerable children online, coercing them into creating degrading and explicit content. In some cases, victims were reportedly forced to carve symbols into their skin—known as “cut signs” or “blood signs”—as a form of submission and control. Other victims were allegedly manipulated into acts of sexual exploitation, animal cruelty, and even harming siblings or themselves, all while under the threat of exposure or psychological torment.
The defendants and their co-conspirators are accused of compiling the explicit content into digital “Lorebooks,” which were traded and archived within the network. These files were used not only to elevate status within the group but also to lure new members and enforce obedience. Investigators say Varagiannis and Nepal played leadership roles in setting the rules of engagement, teaching grooming tactics to recruits, and pushing boundaries of abuse to reinforce the network’s extremist ideology.
“The allegations in this case are not only disturbing, they are every parent’s nightmare,” said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. “The scale of exploitation and cruelty inflicted upon these children is staggering. We are committed to pursuing justice swiftly and relentlessly.”
Attorney General Pamela Bondi described the network as “one of the most heinous child exploitation enterprises ever encountered,” and praised the collaborative effort that led to the arrests.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Washington and New York Field Offices, with key support from the FBI’s Charlotte office, international partners including the Hellenic National Police, and the FBI’s Legal Attaché office in Athens. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the District of Columbia and attorneys from the DOJ’s National Security Division.
Both defendants face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted
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