A disturbing new report from WJLA’s I-Team has brought national attention to a specialized criminal network known as 764, a group of nihilistic violent extremists targeting children on popular platforms like Roblox and Discord. For the legal team at Anapol Weiss, this report is a chilling confirmation of a danger we have been fighting against for years.
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The Case of Erik Lee Madison: A Dangerous Reality
The latest investigation highlights the federal indictment of 20-year-old Erik Lee Madison in Maryland. Madison, an alleged member of the 764 network, is accused of using Roblox to target girls as young as 13, befriending them before escalating to blackmail, coercion, and the forced production of graphic sexual and self-harm content.
As FBI Supervisory Special Agent Nick DeGeorge noted in the report, the acts associated with this network are some of the most "graphic and egregious" seen in a law enforcement career, ranging from animal cruelty and self-harm to actual or attempted suicide.
What is the 764 Network?
Unlike traditional extremist groups with political or religious motives, 764 is driven by a desire to sow chaos. They specifically target vulnerable youth, often those struggling with trauma or social isolation, and use platforms like Discord and Roblox to:
- Groom and Infiltrate: Predators use in-game chats to lure children under the guise of shared interests.
- Coerce and Blackmail: Once a child is recruited, they are often blackmailed into performing horrific acts, including writing messages in blood or self-mutilation on camera for the entertainment of the group.
- Exploit Safety Gaps: The network thrives in the private servers and largely unmoderated spaces of gaming and messaging apps.
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Alexandra Walsh: Profits Over Protection
Anapol Weiss Shareholder Alexandra Walsh has been a leading voice in the fight to hold these massive tech corporations accountable for the tools they provide to predators. Regarding the firm's ongoing litigation, which now includes 16 active lawsuits against Roblox, Walsh is unwavering in her assessment:
“The corporate culture is about growth, growth, growth, and it continues to be to this day,” Walsh said. “Any kind of safety feature that was going to create friction for that growth, that was going to slow that growth, was something that the company was reluctant to adopt, and in many cases did not adopt.”
Walsh has previously emphasized that these platforms are aware of how their systems are being exploited but have failed to implement the robust age and identity verification needed to protect their youngest users. “Roblox needs to be held accountable for creating this powerful tool for predators,” Walsh said. “Enough is enough, too many kids have been hurt.”
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A Long-Standing Commitment to Safety
Our firm has been investigating and reporting about the rise of 764 since long before it made these latest headlines. From cases involving the devastating impact of extremist grooming on popular platforms to the countless other families we represent, our mission remains the same: ensuring that digital spaces are no longer a hunting ground for extremists.
Advice for Parents
While the FBI and law enforcement urge parents to monitor every app and password, Anapol Weiss believes that parental vigilance is only half the battle. Corporate accountability is legally imperative. If you believe your child has been targeted by an online extremist network or has been a victim of grooming on a gaming platform, you do not have to face it alone.
Contact Anapol Weiss today at 215-735-1130 for a confidential consultation to learn how we can help you seek justice.
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational purposes only and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. It should not be considered as legal advice. For personalized legal assistance, please consult our team directly.