In a disturbing development out of Southern California, authorities have arrested 24-year-old Bryant Gonzalez of Downey, Los Angeles County, on charges related to the grooming and exploitation of young girls. Gonzalez, who was taken into custody on Thursday, faces allegations of coercing minors aged 11 and 15 into self-harm and humiliation, then sharing the resulting images online. According to federal investigators, Gonzalez's activities are tied to 764, a shadowy online network described by the FBI as a sadistic extremist group aiming to destabilize society through the corruption of minors.
The FBI has characterized 764's objectives as promoting social unrest and the collapse of the current world order, including in the United States. Operating both domestically and internationally, the group targets vulnerable children, often those who are depressed, lonely, or isolated, to build relationships that escalate into blackmail and abuse. Gonzalez allegedly groomed one victim to film herself in acts of self-degradation, which he then distributed within 764's online circles, federal complaints state.
This arrest is part of a broader crackdown on 764 in California, where the group remains active despite multiple high-profile takedowns. On April 3, the FBI arrested 28-year-old Jose Henry Ayala Casami of San Fernando on charges of possessing child pornography. Casami is accused of participating in a 764-affiliated online forum where members blackmailed young girls into producing videos of degrading sexual acts, sadistic torture, and even carving abusers' names into their skin. The group reportedly encouraged minors to commit suicide, according to federal charges.
Casami pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of production of child pornography and one count of possession of the material. His sentencing is set for August 24 in federal court. Prosecutors say these tactics are central to 764's nihilistic ideology, which seeks to spread chaos by exploiting the most vulnerable.
Another key figure in the California investigations is Dong Hwan Kim, also from Downey, who was arrested last summer on August 27 by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. The 28-year-old faces four counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession. According to the criminal complaint, Kim enticed several young girls to send explicit photos and videos, then used them for extortion, threatening to distribute the material to their families or post it online unless they complied with further demands.
Victims reported that Kim operated a private server where he and other 764 members traded child pornography and coerced minors into humiliating acts. Kim pleaded not guilty in September and is scheduled for trial on May 5. Federal authorities executed a search warrant at his residence, uncovering evidence of his alignment with the group's extremist network.
Los Angeles' top federal prosecutor, Bill Essayli, has spearheaded at least three cases against 764 members in the past year. In an interview with the California Post, Essayli described the group's methods: “They’re calling themselves 764, and they’re a nihilistic, violent, extremist group. They might target kids who are depressed or down or lonely.” He explained how members identify and manipulate these children, starting with building trust before demanding sexual material for blackmail. “They just want to spread this evilness and get as many people to engage in this conduct as they can,” Essayli added.
The rise of 764 echoes other disturbing online predator networks on the West Coast. In January of last year, federal prosecutors dismantled an international neo-Nazi pedophilia ring known as CVLT, which allegedly victimized at least 16 minors worldwide, including two in Southern California. Members of CVLT groomed and coerced children into producing child sexual abuse material and self-harm images, according to court documents.
More recently, on May 14, authorities announced the arrest of five defendants in Los Angeles and Orange County as part of a nationwide operation against child sex offenders, led by Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel. The individuals were charged with possessing, distributing, and producing child pornography. Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, drew parallels to 764 during the announcement.
“Each day, our agents are tackling criminal allegations involving children, whether it be online dangers such as sextortion, emerging nihilist extremist networks such as 764, or children being groomed by someone close to them,” Davis said. He emphasized the pervasive threats: “We urge caretakers of all children to educate themselves about these constant threats.” The arrests highlight the intersection of online extremism and child exploitation, with 764 standing out for its apocalyptic goals.
Background on 764 reveals it as more than a loose collection of predators; federal investigators view it as a structured entity with ideological underpinnings. The group's name, 764, reportedly derives from obscure online numerology tied to chaos and destruction. While ringleaders have been apprehended abroad and domestically, the network persists through encrypted platforms and anonymous forums, making full eradication challenging.
In California, the concentration of cases in Los Angeles County underscores the region's vulnerability, with its large population of internet-savvy youth and proximity to international borders facilitating cross-border operations. Essayli's office has coordinated with the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, treating 764 not just as a child exploitation ring but as a domestic threat akin to other extremist ideologies.
Experts note that groups like 764 exploit the anonymity of the dark web and social media to recruit and radicalize. One victim in the Kim case described being drawn in through gaming chats, a common entry point for such predators. The psychological toll on survivors is profound, with reports of long-term trauma from the blackmail and encouragement of self-harm.
As investigations continue, federal authorities are appealing for tips from the public. The Gonzalez case, still in its early stages, could yield more insights into 764's hierarchy in California. With sentencing and trials looming for Casami and Kim, prosecutors aim to deter would-be members by showcasing the consequences.
Beyond individual arrests, the broader implications point to a growing need for enhanced online safeguards. Law enforcement officials stress parental vigilance and digital literacy as key defenses. Davis's warning serves as a stark reminder: in an era of constant connectivity, the line between virtual predation and real-world harm has blurred, demanding vigilant response from communities and authorities alike.
While 764's ultimate aim of societal collapse may sound outlandish, the tangible harm to children is undeniable. As California grapples with these cases, the focus remains on protecting the innocent and dismantling networks that prey on vulnerability for ideological ends.