Leonidas Varagiannis, 21, a US citizen living in Thessaloniki and known online as “War,” has been arrested in Greece for his alleged role in a global child exploitation ring linked to the extremist group “764.”
According to an affidavit unsealed in the District of Columbia, Varagiannis and co-defendant Prasan Nepal, 20, of North Carolina, ran a criminal enterprise exploiting children online. Nepal was arrested in the US on April 22. Varagiannis was taken into custody in Greece yesterday, April 30.
The 764 network, described by authorities as a nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) group, aims to destabilise society by targeting vulnerable populations, including minors, with disturbing acts of abuse.
The group’s accelerationist ideology promotes social collapse and the destruction of governments, including that of the United States.
“These defendants are accused of orchestrating one of the most heinous online child exploitation enterprises we have ever encountered — a network built on terror, abuse, and the deliberate targeting of children,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi.
The Justice Department alleges Varagiannis was a core leader of a subgroup called “764 Inferno,” which used encrypted platforms to direct, produce, and distribute child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The affidavit details how Varagiannis and others coerced minors into creating graphic content, often involving self-harm, extreme violence, and psychological torment.
Victims were reportedly forced to carve symbols into their bodies, perform sexual acts, and endure escalating abuse under threats.
FBI Director Kash Patel said, “The FBI and our partners are determined to protect juveniles from predators, and we will track down and hold accountable those who engage in these criminal activities.”
Authorities say the network created digital “Lorebooks” from CSAM and violent material, which were traded within the 764 group as a form of currency and used to recruit or elevate members.
Varagiannis also allegedly instructed others in grooming techniques and demanded specific content from new recruits.
US Attorney Edward R Martin Jr. called the case “every parent’s nightmare,” noting the “staggering” scale of abuse and number of victims—at least eight minors, some as young as 13, across multiple jurisdictions.
If convicted, Varagiannis faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Source: US Department of Justice.
