Men led 764 exploitation group, groomed girls suffering from mental illness: prosecutors

USA Today

01-05-2025

Men led 764 exploitation group, groomed girls suffering from mental illness: prosecutors
Two men, including one who lives in North Carolina, are facing charges after prosecutors say they led an international child exploitation ring linked to the extremist group 764.
Charged are 21-year-old Leonidas Varagiannis, known as 'War,' and 20-year-old Prasan Nepal, known as 'Trippy,' said prosecutors from the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in a news release.
Prosecutors said Varagiannis was arrested on April 30 in Greece, while Nepal was arrested on April 22 in North Carolina.
In court documents prosecutors shared with the news release, an agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said Varagiannis, Nepal, and other group members targeted vulnerable populations, including girls with mental health issues.
The group members are accused of grooming, or earning the girls' trust, then getting them to send intimate images of themselves. They also coerced the girls into performing more acts, court documents allege.
Prosecutors said in their news release that both men exploited at least eight minors across multiple jurisdictions.
A lawyer for Nepal did not provide comment when contacted by USA TODAY on May 1. It was not clear on May 1 who is representing Varagiannis in court.
What is 764?
Varagiannis and Nepal were allegedly part of a group known as 764, a network of online groups that extort minors sexually and glorify violence, according to the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.
The group intimidates victims through swatting, or making fake calls to law enforcement, the institute said.
Since 2021, at least ten 764 members or people affiliated with the group have been arrested for sexual extortion, possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), or violent attacks.
Court documents: Group members forced girls to carve names into their bodies
According to the court documents, Varagiannis, Nepal, and other group members groomed the girls by earning their trust and convincing them to share private information and intimate images of themselves. The group then used the intimate images to 'coerce victims into providing more extreme and degrading content,' the court documents allege.
Among the acts the group is accused of coercing the girls into doing are carving the names of 764 members into their bodies, lighting themselves on fire, abusing their pets or siblings, and attempting to die by suicide.
The 764 members then took the images and created 'Lorebooks' to share among 764 members, court documents allege. These books included child sexual abuse material and was viewed as 'valuable currency' within the 764 group, court documents show.
According to court documents, 764 members shared their content, which was then stored in online vaults. Those managing the vaults agreed to keep the content if any members were 'fedded,' or arrested.
Varagiannis and Nepal are accused of recruiting 764 members based on the quality and popularity of the content they shared online, court documents show.
What role did the defendants play in the group's activities?
Nepal lives in High Point, North Carolina, about 18 miles southwest of Greensboro, according to prosecutors.
He has been part of the group since late 2020 or early 2021, and in addition to his most popular nickname Trippy, Nepal also went by Leather Jacket, Rebirth, and KingKrampus, court documents show.
The group's founder was previously arrested around Aug. 25, 2021 and is serving an 80-year sentence for possession with the intent to promote child pornography, per court documents. Messages in the founder's phone show a conversation with Nepal dating back to July 1, 2021. During the conversation, the founder and Nepal talk about founding 764 together.
Varagiannis joined the group after Nepal, around December 2023. His most popular nickname is War, but he also goes by mercyisweak, mercyisweak2, and sinister(expletive), court documents show. He is a U.S. citizen but has spent time living in Greece, where he was arrested.
'Coercive control': It's a phrase you won't hear about at the Diddy trial. Why it's still important.
Court documents: Defendants guided members on how to groom victims
The FBI agent alleges in court documents that Nepal admitted to having child sexual abuse material in Snapchat messages.
Per court documents, Nepal sent messages to people offering to send them child sexual abuse materials and sharing steps on how to groom victims suffering from mental health issues. He encouraged members to "seduce" girls suffering from mental illness and encourage them to harm themselves. He also wrote on Sept. 30, 2024 that members could extort girls who have no father figures in their lives.
According to court documents, Varagiannis helped to determine who was allowed access to the group. On one occasion, he told a prospective member that footage of a minor dying by suicide was "funny."
If convicted, each man faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a news release that both Nepal and Varagiannis were part of 'one of the most heinous online child exploitation enterprises' prosecutors have ever heard of.
'We will find those who exploit and abuse children, prosecute them, and dismantle every part of their operation,' she said.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [e-mail].