How the FBI is investigating an online extremist group targeting other teens

PHOENIX, AZ (InvestigateTV) — The FBI calls the group known as 764 “pure evil.” Federal investigators say the group uses social media where kids play video games to manipulate and eventually blackmail their victims.

When 19-year-old Baron Martin was cited for a fender bender in Tucson two and a half years ago, federal agents say he was already deep into the world of 764.

Agents say Martin joined the online network in 2019 and is now tied to crimes that could keep him locked up for life.

Behind closed doors from his keyboard in Tucson, detectives say he went by the name “Convict,” targeting kids as young as 11 in the U.S. and overseas.

Agents say he blackmailed them to carve his name into their bodies, kill their pets and live stream acts of extreme violence.

Bettina Rottweiler with the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology & Education Center said the group weaponizes trauma to gain notoriety through anarchy.

“It’s like violence for the sake of violence,” Rottweiler said.

Rottweiler said more than 80% of those involved — both victims and perpetrators — are under the age of 25. Researchers say most activity in the group is coming from other teenagers.

Timothy Courchaine, U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona, filed a 29-count indictment against Martin.

“Getting children to violently self-harm, getting children to kill themselves and commit suicide, or specifically in this case as well, allegedly put a hit out on a grandmother,” he said.

It is the first case in the country pursuing terrorism charges against a member of the group 764, conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

Heith Janke, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix field office, said 764 is “pure evil.”

The FBI has seen a 490% increase in these cases in the past year as members of 764 and other splinter groups scout platforms designed for children, like Roblox, for their next victim.

Agents say Martin wrote the “Grooming/Manipulation Egirls Guide.”

“And it’s not for the money. It’s for the glory and for the ideology of bringing down just generally the system,” Courchaine said. That’s the basis of the terrorism charge.

“Because it was an ideology that specifically motivated violent actions,” he said.

And prosecuting these violent extremist groups is not their only goal. “We don’t just stop at charging,” Courchaine said.

In addition to stopping other members like Martin, detectives are working to identify and help all the victims and educate people.

One of the biggest threats to children might be another child or teen who approaches them as an online friend.

“These are the bad guys. They’re not coming in the back door anymore. They’re coming in through the bedroom, through the internet device in that bedroom, and that’s where parents need to pay attention,” Courchaine said.

Janke said the FBI has increased resources dedicated to the group. “We’ve increased our resources, knowing that we need to do more to shut this group down,” he said. He added, “If a leader of 764 can be in Tucson, Arizona, they can be anywhere.”

We reached out to both Roblox and Discord, the platforms investigators believe are used by 764. Roblox did not respond to a request for comment.

“Disrupting 764 has been among Discord’s highest priorities,” Discord said in an official statement. “We have highly skilled teams who work relentlessly to combat these violent actors. These specialized teams work every day to detect high harm threat actors, identify possible victims, mitigate high harm behavior by systematically removing bad actors and their content, monitor new threat groups, restrict recidivism, and provide relevant information as appropriate to law enforcement and industry-wide online safety organizations.”

What parents can do

The FBI urges parents to talk with their children and warn them to avoid anyone who tries to move the conversation to another platform.

Janke said children should know there is nothing they cannot bring to a parent.

Parents whose children have been targeted should resist the instinct to delete messages or evidence, in case investigators need them as evidence to prosecute.

“Please get help,” Janke said. “You may feel embarrassment. You may be extremely scared. But you’re a victim in these cases — you need to ask for help.”

If you believe your child has been targeted by 764 call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit https://tips.fbi.gov/home. You may also contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Cyber Tipline.