by Brooklyn, New York — This week, federal prosecutors announced the indictment of five alleged leaders of “Greggy’s Cult,” an online sextortion network tied to a broader neo-Nazi extremist network. The group reportedly targeted vulnerable minors as young as 11, coercing them into sexually explicit acts, self-harm, and other horrific behaviors.
The indictment, unsealed Tuesday, describes how the ringleaders used online gaming platforms to identify victims and then manipulated them via apps like Discord, terrorizing children into proving loyalty through sexual videos and markings on their bodies.
Connection to Broader Extremist Networks
Prosecutors revealed that Greggy’s Cult overlapped with a wider network called “764,” founded in 2020 by 15-year-old Texas dropout Bradley Cadenhead.
“Greggy’s Cult came into existence before another sadistic extortion network, 764, and prominent members of 764 and other similar networks that followed were also members of Greggy’s Cult,” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Cadenhead is currently serving an 80-year federal prison sentence, but other 764 members have continued operations.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported that 764 is an offshoot of the Order of Nine Angels (O9A), a far-right extremist group blending Satanic and neo-Nazi ideologies.
Victim Manipulation and Disturbing Practices
According to law enforcement and the ADL, victims—often minors struggling with mental health issues, eating disorders, or questions about their sexuality—were lured from gaming platforms like Roblox into messaging apps where manipulation began.
“Victims are often pressured to engage in increasingly extreme behaviors to test their ‘loyalty’ to their abuser, such as killing family pets or asphyxiating themselves. Self-harm, particularly cutting, is also extremely common,” the ADL report noted.
The cults’ influence has been linked to violent incidents, including:
- January 2024: Antioch High School shooting in Tennessee, reportedly inspired by MKY.
- August 2024: An 18-year-old’s livestreamed stabbing near a mosque in Turkey.
- April 2022: A 17-year-old German national livestreamed the slitting of a woman’s throat in Romania.
Federal Action and Recent Charges
The U.S. Department of Justice has been working to dismantle these networks. In June, indictments were filed against alleged 764 ringleaders Leonidas Varagiannis (American residing in Greece) and Prasan Nepal (North Carolina).
This week, Brooklyn federal prosecutors targeted five men, including Hector Bermudez, 29, of Queens, for child exploitation, conspiracy to produce child pornography, and related charges connected to Greggy’s Cult. The cult operated from January 2020 through January 2021, but several ringleaders continued to target minors online after its disbanding.
Recent allegations include:
- Rodriguez: attempted online extortion in April 2025
- Bermudez: tried to recruit minors in June 2025
- Brilhante: sent child pornography to a victim in September 2024
Authorities Warn Parents and Caregivers
EDNY U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella urged vigilance, stating:
“I strongly urge parents and caregivers to have conversations with their children about the dangers of communicating online with strangers and individuals who seek to cruelly exploit them.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner previously described the networks as “the stuff of nightmares,” highlighting their status as a top national security priority across the U.S. and Europe.
Have You Talked to Your Kids About Online Safety?
These cases underscore the dangers lurking on online platforms. Share your experiences, tips, or concerns in the comments below — your insight could help protect children from exploitation.
