The FBI has arrested two ringleaders of the international child exploitation network known as “764,” a nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) group bent on destroying civilized society.
Leonidas Varagiannis, 21, a U.S. citizen residing in Thessaloniki, Greece, and Prasan Nepal, 20, of North Carolina, face charges for orchestrating a heinous enterprise that targeted vulnerable children as young as 13.
Varagiannis was apprehended in Greece yesterday, while Nepal was arrested on April 22, 2025, in North Carolina, with court hearings pending in Washington, D.C.
If convicted, the defendants will face a maximum penalty of life in prison.
The group operated globally, including in Washington, D.C., using encrypted messaging platforms to coordinate their activities.
The arrests were announced by Interim Attorney Ed Martin, Attorney General Pamela Bondi, and FBI Assistant Directors Steven Jensen and Christopher Raia.
“The allegations in this case are not only disturbing, they are also every parent’s nightmare” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “The number of victims allegedly exploited by these defendants, and the depths of depravity are staggering. Justice demands that our response be swift in order to ensure public safety, hold the wrongdoers accountable, and bring the victims some sense of closure so they can heal.”
“These defendants are accused of orchestrating one of the most heinous online child exploitation enterprises we have ever encountered – a network built on terror, abuse, and the deliberate targeting of children,” said Attorney General Bondi. “We will find those who exploit and abuse children, prosecute them, and dismantle every part of their operation.”
The 764 network allegedly targeted vulnerable minors, often girls with mental health challenges, grooming them to produce and share sexually explicit content and engage in self-harm.
This material was compiled into “Lorebooks,” which were shared within the group’s private channels, such as “764 Inferno,” to gain notoriety and recruit new members.
The affidavit details horrific acts, including coercing victims to cut the names of 764 members into their bodies, set themselves on fire, or harm their pets and siblings.
Hellbound and Down 