CA man tied to extremist group targeted kids for sexual exploitation, feds say
A man accused of targeting kids “for sexual exploitation online” through his role in a “violent” network of extremists has been arrested, federal prosecutors in California said.
Jose Henry Ayala Casamiro, 28, of the San Fernando Valley, was taken into custody April 3 in connection with child pornography possession, and he was ordered to be held without bond during an initial court appearance, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said in a news release.
He’s scheduled to be arraigned April 22, prosecutors said.
Information regarding his legal representation wasn’t immediately available April 4.
Prosecutors said “Ayala caused minors to produce” child pornography and “other video content depicting themselves engaging in self-harm” through his involvement in the 764 network.
He’s accused of being involved in an online group as part of 764 “that blackmailed underage girls into creating child pornography videos depicting themselves engaging in degrading sadistic sexual acts, torture sessions, and carving their abusers’ initials or names on their bodies,” prosecutors said.
A court filing “details a March 2020 photo in which an individual had cut the defendant’s name ‘Henry’ into their right forearm,” according to prosecutors, who said the filing “also outlines four videos that allegedly depict Ayala directing teen girls to engage in specific sexual acts.”
Prosecutors said “the group also encouraged the female minors” to die by suicide.
Ayala also is accused of participating “in a new server created as a ‘grooming pool’ targeting underage girls,” according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors describe 764 as “a network of nihilistic violent extremists” aimed at “accelerating the downfall of the current world order, including” the federal government.
The group targets “children for sexual exploitation online, to further” its goals, prosecutors said.
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said “the facts alleged in this complaint are disturbing,” per the release, adding that “let this arrest serve as notice to all online predators. We will find you and arrest you if you hurt children.”
The San Fernando Valley is about a 15-mile drive northwest from Los Angeles.
This story was originally published April 4, 2025 at 1:42 PM.
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