Federal Charges Filed in 764-Linked CSAM Case Involving a 2-Year-Old Child
Published
Key Takeaways
- Arrest and Charges: Aaron Corey, 23, of Albany, New York, was arrested and charged with receiving CSAM, facing up to 20 years in prison.
- Group Affiliation: Corey, known online as "Baggeth," is an alleged affiliate of the 764 network, a nihilistic, violent extremist collective known for coercion and abuse.
- Law Enforcement Action: The arrest is part of a broader federal crackdown on the group, which has led to several arrests over the past year.
Federal authorities have arrested Aaron Corey, a 23-year-old New York man allegedly affiliated with the violent extremist group known as 764. The Aaron Corey arrest took place in Albany, where he now faces federal charges for receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court records, Corey is accused of receiving CSAM over a three-month period ending in December 2024.
FBI Arrests Alleged 764 Group Member
Corey allegedly operated multiple 764-related online chats to solicit the illicit material from other members of the network. Investigators discovered numerous images and videos of CSAM on his devices depicting pre-teen minors. His online moniker, "Baggeth," is reportedly derived from his attempts to have victims place bags over their heads.
The 764 network is a sprawling, nihilistic collective composed primarily of individuals aged 11 to 25. This group engages in a range of violent and criminal activities, including coercing vulnerable children to produce CSAM, self-mutilation, and other acts of violence.
“Those involved with the 764 network methodically target vulnerable, underage populations by using social media to encourage the possession, production, and sharing of extreme gore media and CSAM,” the recent DoJ press release said.
The FBI has been actively investigating the group's use of cybercriminal tactics to facilitate their offenses. The charges against Corey highlight the serious nature of 764 group activities and the depraved exploitation central to their operations. Corey is currently detained pending further court proceedings.
Federal Law Enforcement Against Extremist Groups
This arrest is the latest action in an intensified campaign of law enforcement against extremist groups like 764 and its splinter cells.
Over the past year, federal partners have arrested several key figures associated with the network, including alleged leaders Leonidas Varagiannis and Prasan Nepal and member Jose Henry Ayala Casamiro.
In November, a Colorado registered sex offender was convicted for exchanging and livestreaming CSAM, and a Virginia man got years in prison in September for repeat CSAM offenses.
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