An accused pervert allegedly tied to a dark online community of twisted sexual extremists was arrested on charges of manipulating young kids into sending him explicit videos and photos that included self-harm.
Officers collared Bryant Gonzalez, 24, at his home in Downey Thursday on accusations he coerced minor girls to create and send him sexually explicit videos,Justice Departmentofficials said Friday.
The suspected sicko groomed one of his victims to film herself engaging in self-harm and self-humiliation and then shared the vile images with others online, the complaint charges.
Gonzalez appeared before a federal judge late Thursday atUS District Courtin downtown Los Angeles. He did not enter a plea.
He is being held without bail and his arraignment is scheduled for March 10.
Los Angeles’ top federal prosecutorBill Essaylitold the Post that Gonzalez appeared to be affiliated with a twisted — and growing — online ideology known as “764.”
Essayli described 764 is a violent international extremist network that operates online by targeting and exploiting vulnerable minors through sextortion, coercion and manipulation.
Adherents to 764 like Gonzalez encourage self-harm, animal cruelty and even suicide, and have been linked to numerous terrorist-like “swatting” activities worldwide, the prosecutor said.
“This particular group preys on children online, through social media or other direct messaging apps,” Essayli told The Post. “They look for kids that are susceptible to being exploited.”
According to an affidavit filed with the criminal complaint against Gonzalez, he coerced kids to send him child sex abuse material from at least April to June of last year.
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
