Federal authorities have moved to dismantle an online child exploitation ring known as “Greggy’s Cult,” arresting five alleged leaders across the United States on Tuesday. The Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed a grand jury indictment charging the men with running a sophisticated abuse network on the messaging platform Discord that targeted children for years.
From Gaming to Coercion
According to prosecutors, the group operated from 2019 to 2021 and used popular video games as hunting grounds. The indictment alleges the defendants lured minors from games such as Roblox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive into their private Discord servers.
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Once the victims were isolated, the dynamic reportedly shifted to blackmail and sadism. Prosecutors say the defendants coerced children—the youngest of whom was just 11 years old—into “acts of degradation” and self-harm.
The indictment details a practice known as “fansigning,” where victims were forced to write the names of cult members on their bodies to demonstrate “ownership” and loyalty. The DOJ alleges the predators used blackmail to ensure compliance with these demands.
A Precursor to ‘764’
While “Greggy’s Cult” is no longer active, officials warn that its influence persists. The DOJ described the group as a direct precursor to “764,” a violent, global network that is currently a top investigative priority for the FBI.
READ: Alleged ‘764’ Extremist, California Teen Charged With Animal Crushing, Child Exploitation
According to court filings, Bradley Cadenhead, the creator of 764, was previously a member of Greggy’s Cult. Cadenhead, who founded the spin-off group at age 15 using his zip code, reportedly told psychologists he took inspiration from his time in the original cult. He is currently serving an 80-year sentence for child pornography crimes.
The Defendants
The five men arrested Tuesday range in age from 22 to 29. They were taken into custody in the following states:
- New York
- New Mexico
- Hawaii
- California
- Colorado
In a letter to the court arguing for pretrial detention, prosecutors noted that the group sustained its criminal enterprise by hiding behind digital anonymity. Even when Discord removed their accounts or shut down their servers, the defendants allegedly created new aliases to continue the abuse immediately.
Following the arrests, a judge ordered defendant Hector Bermudez of Queens, New York, to be detained pending a hearing on Thursday. Court records regarding detention hearings for the other four defendants were not immediately available.
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