Two young men were arrested in Thessaloniki, in execution of the same number of warrants by the investigative authorities – on the charge of participating in a criminal organization based in the USA, which operated via the Internet, with the aim of sexually exploiting vulnerable groups of minors and trafficking child pornography, around the world.

It’s about 21 year old Greek Americanalleged leader of the criminal organization and his 18-year-old Greek accomplice.

The first was arrested last April with a red notice of international searches of the USA requesting his extradition to be tried for the same acts by an American court. However, the Appeals Council of Thessaloniki rejected the request of the USA, as it accepted, on the one hand, that the 21-year-old defendant holds Greek citizenship and was therefore a citizen at the time of the acts, and on the other hand, that the offenses of the American indictment were committed in Greece – where he lives with his family – and consequently the Greek judicial authorities have jurisdiction.

The 21 year old he was then releaseduntil his further criminal treatment is decided by the competent prosecutor.

During that time, a preliminary investigation was underway by the Thessaloniki First Instance Prosecutor’s Office, which ultimately led to laying charges against him and his accomplice, with the issuance of arrest warrants.

In front of the Greek judicial authorities who were called to decide on the 21-year-old’s extradition request to the USA, he denied the accusations, stressing among other things the following: “I clicked on a link on the Internet […] I am not a bad person, nor the leader of this organization.”

Now he and his 18-year-old accomplice will be called to give explanations to the 6th (6th) regular investigator of Thessaloniki for the crimes of membership in a criminal organization, serious intentional physical harm to weak people with indirect perpetration, serially and jointly, pornography of minors and revenge pornography. Until their criminal treatment is decided, they remain in custody.

According to what became known, the accused members of the criminal organization are accused of approaching, through online platforms, unsuspecting minor victims, with the aim of forcing them to “share” videos with scenes of violence, self-harm, sexual acts, pornography and other heinous acts.

According to the US documents, this criminal organization is described as “violent, extremist and nihilistic”. According to information, it bears the name “764” and its members target minors between the ages of 8 and 17, particularly black youth, youth from the LGBTI+ community or youth who have experienced mental health problems.