Maine.- A 17-year-old from Maine has been detained following a federal investigation into online extremist groups connected to the 764 network, in a case federal officials described as the first of its kind involving a juvenile in the United States.
The Maine teenager was federally charged and adjudicated for multiple acts of juvenile delinquency tied to the teen’s involvement in nihilistic violent extremist groups connected to the 764 network. The findings include conspiring to sexually exploit a child, sexually exploiting and enticing a child, distributing child sexual abuse material, sending interstate threats, cyberstalking victims and identity theft.
The teenager’s identity has not been released because of federal restrictions governing the disclosure of juvenile identities. The teen will serve a period of official detention followed by juvenile delinquent supervision.
The case was announced by the FBI Boston Division, which is investigating more than 500 subjects nationwide who are tied to online networks commonly referred to as 764. Federal officials said the networks also operate through numerous offshoots and under other names.
The investigation has particular relevance across New England because the juvenile involved is from Maine and the case was announced by FBI Boston. Officials said the networks target minors and other vulnerable people through popular online platforms and seek to coerce victims into increasingly sexual and violent conduct.
“These groups actively target minors and are made up of a large percentage of minors,” said Ted E. Docks, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “They are intentionally recruiting juveniles here in the U.S. to conduct criminal acts because, simply put, they think they can get away with it because historically, the federal justice system has rarely prosecuted juveniles.”
Docks said the FBI intends to pursue juveniles involved in such activity, adding that the agency is working to protect children and hold those who harm them accountable.
Andrew Benson, United States attorney for the District of Maine, said federal prosecutors work with the FBI and other law enforcement partners to protect children from online threats.
“If you sexually exploit a child, the fact that you yourself are a minor will not protect you from the consequences of your actions,” Benson said.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said the conduct uncovered in the case required a forceful response to protect the public from what he described as predatory nihilistic violent extremism.
The FBI said NVE describes what motivates many subjects involved in these crimes. According to the agency, members of NVE groups within the 764 network, including groups to which the Maine juvenile belonged, work together toward what the FBI describes as a goal of destroying civilized society through the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations.
The agency said its investigations have found networks coercing victims into creating graphic content and child sexual abuse material, sexually exploiting siblings, harming family pets, cutting themselves with sharp objects and attempting suicide.
Earlier this year, FBI Boston issued a public service announcement warning parents, guardians and caregivers about what the agency described as a sharp increase in extremists targeting children and vulnerable victims online.
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