A 21-year-old Greek-American has been remanded in custody after being charged with participation in a criminal organization based in the US, which operated online for the sexual exploitation of minors and distribution of child pornography on a global scale.
The defendant testified before the Thessaloniki investigating magistrate. According to case evidence and information from Greek authorities’ investigations, members of the organization he allegedly participated in approached unsuspecting minors through websites to force them to “share” videos containing scenes of violence, self-harm, sexual acts and other horrific activities. The network, known as “764,” targeted children aged 8 to 17, with particular focus on Black youth, LGBTQ+ community members, or individuals with mental health issues, while US authorities characterize it as “violent, extremist and nihilistic.”
Timeline of extradition and arrest of 21-year-old for child pornography
Americans had requested the young Greek-American’s extradition through an international red notice. He was arrested last April in Thessaloniki, where he lives with his family, but the Court of Appeals decided not to extradite him due to his Greek citizenship.
However, an investigation by Greek authorities was already underway, as part of a preliminary inquiry, for the same acts the 21-year-old allegedly committed from our country, giving Greek justice jurisdiction.
After the investigation concluded, felony charges were filed against him and his 18-year-old accomplice, with arrest warrants issued for crimes including participation in a criminal organization, aggravated premeditated bodily harm against vulnerable persons through indirect perpetration, in series and jointly, minor pornography, and revenge pornography.
Denies the charges
The 21-year-old defendant denied the charges in his testimony. “I accessed the application but have no connection to this specific organization. I went to the 18-year-old’s house and clicked on the application from his computer,” he allegedly testified, among other things, but the prosecutor and magistrate sent him to prison.
Meanwhile, his 18-year-old co-defendant, who was a minor during the period he allegedly committed these acts, was given time to testify on Monday before the same investigating magistrate.
