Federal authorities may have stumbled upon a disturbing Satanic pedophile extortion cult that preys on minors over the internet while investigating the arrest of a Queens man on gun charges two years ago.
The group, known as 764, was uncovered during the probe into social media posts made by Angel Almeida, 23, who was apprehended in November 2021 and charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, according to court documents and a report published on Thursday.
Brooklyn federal prosecutors recently announced that they have filed additional charges against Almeida related to child exploitation and enticement of minors. Prior to his arrest, the FBI had been following anonymous tips that allegedly linked Almeida to social media accounts containing explicit posts about child sex abuse.
One of his Instagram profiles, "@necropedocell," featured a photo of a child who appeared to be bound and gagged. Another profile showed Almeida posing with ammunition strapped to his chest in front of a black flag bearing the logo of the Order of Nine Angels (O9A), a worldwide Satanist group associated with neo-Nazism and white supremacy.
During the search of Almeida's residence, authorities allegedly discovered hundreds of files containing child sex abuse material on four different devices, as well as books related to O9A and Satanism. They also found a "blood covenant," which was an O9A drawing of a hooded figure surrounded by the group's symbols and smeared with what appeared to be blood.
On September 12, the FBI issued a public notice about 764, describing it as a "violent online group" that deliberately targets minor victims on publicly available messaging platforms to extort them into recording or livestreaming acts of self-harm and producing child sexual abuse material. Sources have revealed that the cult is believed to be an offshoot of O9A and that law enforcement discovered the group during their investigation into Almeida's case.
Members of 764 are known to use threats, blackmail, and manipulation to coerce vulnerable youth, particularly LGBTQ+ minors, racial minorities, and those with mental health issues, into recording acts of self-harm, animal abuse, sex acts, and even suicide, according to the FBI warning. The group targets victims through platforms such as Roblox, Discord, Twitch, curated Soundcloud playlists, and the encrypted messaging app Telegram. Researchers have estimated that there are likely thousands of 764 members, with hundreds of active members regularly scouring these platforms.
While the recent FBI warning marked the first time US law enforcement publicly mentioned 764, the group has already made headlines overseas. A German teenager accused of killing his Romanian foster family is believed to have been a participant in the cult. The teenager had tattoos of a swastika and "764," as well as the word "necro" - the same word used by Almeida as one of his Instagram usernames - inked on his forearm.
In addition to possessing child pornography, Almeida is accused of attempting to lure two underage girls into sexual activity, one of whom he allegedly targeted for the purpose of producing and disseminating child sex abuse material, according to the February indictment. FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Michael Driscoll stated, "As alleged, Almeida posed multiple threats to our community, not only as a felon in possession of a firearm but also through targeting children as victims of sexual abuse."
During a recent appearance in Brooklyn federal court, Almeida, who had previously served 18 months behind bars in Florida on burglary charges, dismissed the serious allegations against him. When Judge Rachel P. Kovner detailed the content of the attempted child exploitation charges, Almeida went on a rant, questioning the definition of a minor. He also claimed to have been diagnosed with "schizophrenic bipolar disorder" in 2018 but had never received medication for the condition.
After an extensive evaluation process, Almeida was found competent to stand trial earlier this month. The trial is scheduled to begin on December 4. If convicted, he could face a maximum penalty of life in prison.
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