Baron Martin, a 20-year-old from Tucson, Arizona, was taken into custody on December 11 for creating child sexual abuse material and engaging in cyberstalking activities linked to his involvement in online violent extremist groups identified as 764 and CVLT.
“764 remains a dangerous network of violent extremists who systematically target children and weaponize child sexual abuse material for the purpose of furthering an accelerationist agenda, destroying civilized society, and causing the collapse of the U.S. Government,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “The Department of Justice is fully committed to stopping 764’s acts of terrorism and disrupting the 764 network.”
”The Department’s Project Safe Childhood strives to protect America’s youth, whether from individual stalkers or organized, virtual networks,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “This case serves not only to deter unlawful conduct, but also to encourage parents and children to remain vigilant and seek help when they encounter predatory and violent activity in the online world.”
“The details in this case are simply horrific as the defendant allegedly coerced children to harm themselves multiple times,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people and we take that especially seriously when it comes to the young and vulnerable. The FBI will use all of our authorities to investigate and hold accountable anyone who preys on children.”
The unsealed complaint claims that 764 operates as a network of violent extremists involved in criminal activities both in the United States and internationally. Members of the 764 network systematically target vulnerable, underage individuals across the globe, utilizing popular online social media platforms to facilitate the possession, creation, and distribution of extreme gore content and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Their aim is to desensitize youth to violence and undermine societal norms, normalizing the possession and sharing of explicit CSAM and violent media to manipulate and groom their victims for future acts of violence.
Historically, the network allegedly focused on underage females, subjecting them to grooming, extortion, and coercing them into self-mutilation or harming others, often broadcasting these acts live for other network members. Subsequently, they frequently compile and edit videos or images of their victims, sharing them on social media to gain recognition within the network and instill fear in their victims, all in pursuit of chaos aligned with the 764 ideology, which seeks to disrupt societal order.
The network has evolved over time, adopting new names and giving rise to various offshoots. Despite shifting between social media platforms and changing its identity, the fundamental objectives and membership remain unchanged, continuing to pose a significant threat under the 764 banner. Since around 2021, an individual known as “Convict” has been identified as a participant in chatrooms associated with the online terror networks 764 and CVLT.
The court evidence reveals that Martin coerced a minor to inflict cuts on her body, including swastikas and satanic symbols. He also manipulated another 16-year-old victim on Discord, instructing her to scratch herself until she drew blood, insisting, “I want it dripping.” Following this, he ordered her to pour rubbing alcohol on her wounds. Disturbingly, Martin later shared three videos of this cruel treatment with another user on Discord, showing the minor scratching her forearm and applying rubbing alcohol, all while appearing to suffer in pain with a rag in her mouth.
The complaint states that Martin acknowledged using the alias “Convict” on various social media platforms. He frequently claimed to be a leader within the 764 and CVLT groups, teaching members how to extort victims and referring to himself as the “king of extortion,” boasting about being the “catalyst for thousands of extortions” in 764. Additionally, he created and shared a comprehensive guide on social media detailing methods to identify, groom, and exploit vulnerable youths. The complaint further alleges that in September 2022, Martin produced child sex abuse material on Discord by compelling two minors to self-harm. In one instance, he pressured a 13-year-old to carve his name into her body in multiple locations, including her chest, stomach, and thighs, threatening to release compromising images if she refused.
In the court proceedings, evidence revealed that Martin had previously instructed the same underage girl to carve various designs into her skin, including swastikas and satanic symbols. Additionally, he communicated with another minor, a 16-year-old, via Discord, urging her to scratch her own skin with her nails and to “draw blood,” insisting, “I want it dripping.” He further instructed her to pour rubbing alcohol on her injuries. Martin later shared three videos depicting this cruel treatment of the minor with another user on Discord. In these videos, the girl is seen scratching her forearm and applying rubbing alcohol to the wounds, ultimately curling up in visible distress with a rag in her mouth.
Moreover, Martin faces allegations of cyberstalking a different 13-year-old girl due to threatening messages he sent through Discord in September 2022. He claimed to have placed a “hit” on her grandmother and sought out individuals to carry out the murder. Martin reportedly offered $3,000 to someone willing to kidnap and kill the grandmother, providing her address in the process. The complaint also states that in a different chat room, Martin shared the phone numbers of both the minor and her grandmother, encouraging others to contact them for harassment.
If found guilty, Martin could be sentenced to as much as 30 years behind bars for creating child sexual abuse material, along with a potential 10-year prison term for cyberstalking a minor, provided there was no physical harm involved. Each charge also comes with a possible fine of up to $250,000 and the possibility of a lifetime of supervised release. A federal district court judge will decide the final sentence, taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and various statutory considerations. The FBI is currently looking into the matter.
