Child Exploitation Network Disrupted by DOJ
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Tuesday that federal authorities have charged and arrested several individuals across multiple states, effectively dismantling a years-long campaign of child sexual abuse run by an online cult.
The leaders of the group known as “Greggy’s Cult,” which operated from 2019 to 2021 on Discord, include five individuals who have now been apprehended. One member, identified as Paid, was arrested following a grand jury indictment that revealed serious charges related to child exploitation and child pornography. Prosecutors claim that this cult played a role in the formation of a larger global pedophile network known as 764, which has become a significant focus for investigations by President Trump’s FBI.
Prosecutors contend that Greggy’s Cult enticed children through popular video games such as Roblox and Counter Strike: Global Offensive. An indictment details how these defendants allegedly coerced victims into performing humiliating acts, including self-harm, and making videos where they expressed loyalty to the cult, even stating they were “owned” by its members.
Furthermore, they reportedly forced victims to inscribe the names of cult members on their bodies and create handwritten signs—an act described as “fan signs.” The DOJ stated that these predators exerted pressure and threats to ensure compliance with their disturbing demands.
The five defendants, aged between 22 and 29, are from various states including New York, New Mexico, Hawaii, California, and Colorado. According to prosecutors, the youngest known victim was just 11 years old.
The tactics employed by this group resemble those of other online predatory networks, particularly the neo-Nazi movement 764, which has been linked to over 300 FBI investigations during Trump’s presidency. Numerous individuals associated with 764 have been indicted both in the U.S. and overseas.
The DOJ characterized Greggy’s Cult as a “pioneer” of the 764 network, noting that several members of 764 were also part of Greggy’s Cult.
One notable figure in this saga is Texas resident Bradley Cadenhead, who founded 764 at age 15. He previously mentioned that his participation in Greggy’s Cult inspired his creation of 764. Currently, he is serving an 80-year sentence for offenses related to child pornography.
The DOJ’s communication to the court emphasized how the leaders of Greggy’s Cult managed to carry out their illegal activities while remaining anonymous. They used various aliases and social media accounts to make it challenging for law enforcement to uncover their real identities. Even after Discord removed their accounts, they found ways to continue their criminal activities under updated usernames.
Some defendants allegedly kept distributing child pornography online long after Greggy’s Cult had disbanded.
As for the judicial proceedings, a judge has ordered that Hector Bermudez from Queens, New York, be detained until a hearing later this week. Meanwhile, detention hearings for the other arrested individuals have yet to be scheduled.
