Porterville teen one of 28 charged nationwide in connection with extremist group '764'

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Porterville teen is 1 of 28 radical precocious charged by the Department of Justice for his alleged transportation to an online extremist group.

In a six-page indictment filed by prosecutors, Tony Long is accused of sexually exploiting a insignificant successful Washington, cyberstalking different successful Tulare County, and crushing animals. The 19-year-old has denied the charges.

Prosecutors accidental helium is an subordinate of "764."

"We're going aft the caller signifier of what I notation to arsenic modern-day coercion successful America: 764 crimes that impact harming our children by going aft them online," FBI Director Kash Patel said successful September.

ABC's Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas has investigated the radical for months.

"It's some a nationalist information menace and a menace to families," helium told Action News.

Thomas's reporting details however the 764 web coerces and extorts minors, forcing them to execute depraved acts of unit against themselves and others.

Arizona parents Leslie and Colby Taylor mislaid their 13-year-old son, Jay, to termination aft authorities accidental a 764-member successful Germany pushed him to instrumentality his ain life.

"The information that the perpetrators are having entree straight to our kids' caput versus their carnal well-being is highly scary," Colby told ABC.

The Porterville indictment details a section drawstring of akin disturbing online behavior.

Prosecutors accidental Long utilized machine services and net messages to intimidate and origin affectional distress to his insignificant victim.

It is different chilling reminder for parents astir the dangers lurking online.

"The cardinal is engage, engage, and past prosecute immoderate more," Thomas said. "Try to person an knowing of who your kid is communicating with. Know what societal media platforms they're using."

The FBI has opened astatine slightest 100 further investigations successful the months since Thomas archetypal reported connected 764, bringing the nationwide full to much than 350.

Long is owed backmost astatine the national courthouse successful Fresno connected December 17. Court records uncover that helium is taxable to a protective order.

If you oregon idiosyncratic you cognize is successful affectional distress oregon considering suicide, telephone the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline astatine 988 oregon 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

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