(The Epoch Times)—Prasan Nepal, one of the leaders of the 764 violent extremist network, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to sexually exploit children, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Nepal, 21, and co-defendant Leonidas Varagiannis served as core leaders of 764, a global violent online network that supports the production and sharing of child sex abuse material and extreme gore media.
Between roughly 2021 and 2025, Nepal and others allegedly coordinated the exploitation of minors through encrypted platforms. They gave instructions to members, enforced the network’s rules, managed recruitment into the network, and oversaw the production and spread of materials that were used in coercing victims, the DOJ said in an Oct. 9 statement.
Nepal and Varagiannis allegedly exploited at least eight minors in various jurisdictions. Some of the content featured children as young as 13.
Nepal “pleaded guilty for his role in exploiting juveniles—not only breaking the law himself but recruiting others to participate in the heinous conduct targeting kids online through sexual assault, pornography, animal crushing, and more,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in the statement.
“Dismantling 764 and their online network has been a top priority for this FBI, with a nearly 500 percent increase in 764-related arrests last year with our state and local partners. We are finding these criminal actors all over the country no matter where they operate,” Patel said.
According to the DOJ, Nepal and Varagiannis were also leaders of a 764 subgroup called 764 Inferno. Members of the networks used encrypted apps to identify vulnerable minors online, manipulate and coerce them, distribute exploitative material, and promote group members based on the severity of content they helped create.
In several instances, defendants caused victims to self-mutilate, harm animals, sexually exploit siblings, engage in sexual acts, and commit murder and suicide, DOJ said.
The defendants and co-conspirators created digital databases containing child sexual abuse material and other gore or violent content, according to the DOJ.
Nepal, from North Carolina, was arrested in 2025. He currently faces up to 30 years in prison, with sentencing set for March 2027. Varagiannis is currently being held in a Greek prison and is expected to stand trial within the next six months.
Nepal is one of the latest 764 members to face legal action for their crimes. In August, a Tennessee man, who was a member of the network, was sentenced to 77 years in prison for crimes such as the production of child sexual abuse material and distributing “animal crushing” videos, the DOJ said in a statement at the time.
Earlier in June, the DOJ announced that another 764 member, from Maryland, was sentenced to 30 years in prison. The person sexually exploited at least 10 girls.
Protecting Children
In a Sept. 23 statement, FBI Philadelphia warned about a sharp spike in the activity of violent online networks, such as 764, targeting children and vulnerable populations.
FBI Philadelphia asked communities to exercise caution when posting personal information, images, and videos online. Such content can provide malicious actors material to manipulate and exploit for criminal activities.
The FBI recommended that family members and friends watch out for certain signs of a victim engaging in self-harm, including becoming more isolated, receiving anonymous gifts, scars or cuts on the body, wearing long sleeves in hot weather, animals being harmed, and family pets uncharacteristically being fearful of a child.
Currently, a bill is under consideration in Congress that seeks to tackle the issue of online exploitation of children.
The James T. Woods Act would create new criminal offenses and expand reporting of incidents that involve the online coercion of minors to commit harm. It also criminalizes threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material to coerce, extort, or intimidate victims.
In a June 10 statement, the office of Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), one of the Act’s backers, announced that the White House has endorsed the measure. The bill is also being supported by more than two dozen child safety and law enforcement groups, according to the statement.
“I thank President [Donald] Trump and his administration for their support,” Grassley said.
“Congress must act now to secure justice for American families by strengthening U.S. laws against online child abuse and ensuring our nation’s law enforcement officers and prosecutors can more effectively combat child exploitation.”
