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Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
FBI: Hundreds of open investigations linked to online exploitation network targeting kids, vulnerable people
The Brief The FBI said it has at least 250 investigations open across the country that are tied to "764," an online network that targets children and vulnerable people. It calls the network a violent, extremist network that operates online around the globe. Last week, federal agents arrested two suspected leaders of 764, operating out of the U.S. and Europe. TAMPA, Fla. - The FBI has hundreds of open investigations around the country connected to an online exploitation network. Big picture view The FBI said it has at least 250 investigations open across the country that are tied to "764," an online network that targets children and vulnerable people. It calls the network a violent, extremist network that operates online around the globe. READ: Softball coach admits to exchanging explicit photos, videos with teen girl: PCSO It says each one of its 55 field offices are involved in the investigations. Last week, federal agents arrested two suspected leaders of 764, operating out of the U.S. and Europe. "It is unimaginable and yet, it is happening every day all across the world," Supervisory Special Agent Michelle Nicolet, with the FBI Tampa Field Office, said. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Dig deeper The FBI's Tampa Field Office said the 764 network targets children and vulnerable people on everyday social media and gaming platforms by exploiting them and then blackmailing them. It said these so-called extremists coerce children into doing sexual acts, animal cruelty and acts of self-harm, and then recording or live-streaming the acts. "Things that we're seeing is, sharing of extreme gore videos, sharing of child sexual abuse material, extreme cutting, people actually cutting words and names into their own skin, harming animals and pets, and even as extreme as live-streaming suicide," Nicolet said. Nicolet said the victims are typically between 10 and 17 years old, but they've been as young as nine years old. The FBI put out a warning earlier in the spring about increased activity of 764 and other violent online networks. CRIME: Largo man accused of battering 2 disabled adults at Clearwater group home "Some of them have the goal of ultimately collapsing society by the corruption of our youth," Nicolet said. "Others are just looking to gain status and power." Local perspective Earlier this year, the FBI says Jack Rocker, 19, of Tampa, was sentenced to seven years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material. The U.S. Department of Justice said court records showed that Rocker was a member of 764. "In this case, the subject was a, by all standards, a kind of all-American kid," Nicolet said. During their investigation, FBI agents said they found more than 8,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material on Rocker's devices. "It breaks my heart to think that that's the sole purpose of this network, right, is to target vulnerable teens, kiddos," Ady Pena, a youth and family advocate with Redefining Refuge, said. MORE: Horses on Polk County property left for weeks without food and water, owner arrested: 'Severely malnourished' What they're saying Redefining Refuge handles cases involving online child exploitation every day. The advocacy organization works with children and families who have been victims of sexual exploitation. Pena said any child can be targeted by online networks like these, and she said it's something that every family should be aware of and pay attention to. "It's usually somebody coming to the kiddos saying they're their same age or they know somebody that they know and they have mutual followers," Pena said. "If it's on Instagram or on Snapchat, it's pretty easy to access each other's followers." She emphasized the importance of families, community advocates and law enforcement working together closely to keep children safe. "If there is no education out there, how are we supposed to, you know, stop it or even just notice the signs?" she said. The FBI said 764 is just one example of these extremist groups that are popping up around the globe. READ: Florida fitness influencer faces 5 felonies for running over cop and fleeing, police say "I cannot overstate how important it is for parents to be are of where their kids are operating online, who they're communicating with, and also just educating their children on the dangers of the online space," Nicolet said. What you can do The FBI said there are some warning signs that families can look out for to help make sure their children are safe. "Increased moodiness, isolating themselves, really withdrawing from any sort of in-person contact with family or friends, any signs of unexplained bruises, scratches, cuts, marks," Nicolet said. "Things like wearing long sleeves when it's, you know, warm out, or trying to kind of cover up things that they might not want their parents to see. Unexplained injuries to pets, you know, family pets. "Or, kind of seeing things happen that just don't seem quite right or perhaps an obsession that your child might have with a new online friend or even potentially a love interest." The FBI said these signs aren't necessarily immediate cause for concern, but they are things that families should keep an eye on. Anyone who is involved in a situation involving any of these exploitation tactics is encouraged to report it to the following agencies: FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at FBI Field Office ( or 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324)) National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ( or 1-800-THE LOST) The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Kylie Jones. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nicolet High School students take third prize award in C-SPAN video documentary contest
Three Nicolet High School students have a cash prize to split and recognition for their work in a national documentary contest. Caitlin Reindl, Alexander Schmelzling and Brody Weiss took third prize and $750 for their video "Shots Fired, Your Message to the President." The video, created as a class project and later entered in the contest, explored what can be done to reduce gun violence. It was among over 1,700 entries from 42 states and Washington, D.C. The three Nicolet students were the only Wisconsin students to receive any prize award for their work. "Of course, we always had it in the back of our minds, like it would be cool to win this thing, but we never thought it would get that far, especially being the only team from Wisconsin to be named," Schmelzling said. Social studies teacher Katherine Romanesko advised the team, who credited her with answering their questions, providing input, proofreading, helping with research and wording interview questions in a nonbiased manner. "She was a huge help in taking a look at those questions and making sure that the information and the requests of that information were coming off as clearly as possible," Schmelzling said. "Research skills definitely were improved through this because we had to find reputable sources, go through a bunch of things, what's fact and what's not really true, so I guess there was a lot that was learned through this," Reindl said. Both Schmelzing and Weiss said they learned how to conduct a formal interview. "That formal interview process and formally asking what could be difficult questions and making sure your questions are non-biased from a journalistic perspective was something I feel like I gleaned," Schmelzling said. Among the people the students interviewed for their project was Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. Schmelzling said they didn't expect to get the interview; Johnson's office initially said he wouldn't be available until after the contest submission deadline. But Schmelzling persevered, telling the mayor's office the students would still appreciate his voice, and pressing to get the interview earlier because of the deadline. Johnson's office responded by offering an interview the next day. "That was probably one of the coolest things we've done," Schmelzling said. C-SPAN's annual contest focuses on encouraging students in grades six through 12 to use critical thinking about issues affecting their communities and the nation. This year, the channel asked students to create a five- to six-minute documentary video on the theme "Your Message to the President." The most popular topics among entries were climate, environment and land use; K-12 education policies and the cost of college; health care and mental health; gun violence, school safety and firearm policies; and inflation, taxes, government spending and the economy, according to a news release. The three Nicolet students were among 32 third-prize winners that C-SPAN selected nationwide. C-SPAN also awarded a grand prize, four first-prizes, 16 second prizes and 97 honorable mention prizes. The winner of the grand prize and $5,000 was Dermott Foley, a 10th-grader from Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, for his video "Teens, Social Media and the Fentanyl Overdose Crisis." The contest was divided into middle and high school categories. High school students competed regionally in three divisions, while middle school students competed nationally. C-SPAN chose the grand prize winner among both the high school and middle school levels nationally, C-SPAN's news release said. To view the prize-winning videos, visit Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Nicolet students recognized for C-SPAN documentary
