A 19-year-old Porterville resident faces serious federal charges after allegedly participating in a disturbing online extremist network that targets children and vulnerable individuals. Tony Christopher Long, who went by online aliases including "Inactive," "Inactivee0," and "inactivecvx," was indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts including animal crushing, sexual exploitation of a minor, and making interstate threats.
The indictment comes nearly ten months after the alleged crimes occurred in late 2024, and represents part of a broader federal crackdown on what law enforcement has dubbed "Nihilistic Violent Extremists"—a new category of threat that's testing traditional counterterrorism frameworks.
A New Type of Extremism
Long allegedly belonged to "764," a criminal network that, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California, represents a disturbing evolution in online extremism. Unlike traditional extremist groups motivated by specific political or ideological goals, Nihilistic Violent Extremists (NVEs) engage in criminal conduct "in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society and a desire to bring about its collapse via chaos, destruction, and social instability."
The 764 network has become a priority target for federal law enforcement. According to FBI announcements, the group targets "vulnerable populations, which often include minors," using social media platforms to share child sexual abuse material and gore content, or grooming victims toward committing acts of violence. Research from the Anti-Defamation League indicates that the network "is composed predominantly of minors, many of whom are not only victims but also abusers."
The Charges
According to court documents, Long allegedly engaged in animal crushing on two separate occasions, sexually exploited a juvenile victim living in Washington state, committed cyberstalking against a juvenile victim in Kern County, and made online threats. Each charge carries substantial potential penalties: up to seven years for each animal crushing count, a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years for sexual exploitation of a minor, and up to 20 years for cyberstalking. Combined with charges for possession of child exploitation material and interstate threats, Long could face decades in federal prison if convicted.
"This defendant allegedly engaged in acts of extreme cruelty by exploiting a child, abusing animals, and threatening violence—his conduct reflects the depravity of '764,'" said Attorney General Pamela Bondi, as quoted in the press release. "These networks seek to terrorize and destabilize our communities by preying on the most vulnerable, and the Justice Department will stop at nothing to dismantle this network and bring offenders to justice."
Understanding 764's Reach
The case against Long is one of dozens targeting 764 network members across the country. In April 2025, the Department of Justice announced charges against two alleged leaders of the network, Leonidas Varagiannis of Greece and Prasan Nepal of North Carolina, for operating what prosecutors called a "global child exploitation enterprise." That case alleged the defendants directed victims to commit acts of self-harm and created digital "Lorebooks"—collections of child sexual abuse material and violent content used as currency within the network.
Research from the Global Network on Extremism and Technology suggests that 764 emerged in 2021 from "The Community" (also known as "Com" or "Comm"), a loosely connected network engaged in hacking, swatting, and sextortion. The network draws aesthetic inspiration from the Order of Nine Angles, a satanic neo-Nazi extremist group, though experts say 764 members' actions are "typically fueled by a desire to gain influence and status within the network itself" rather than by coherent ideology.
Local Context and Crime Trends
Porterville, a city of approximately 63,000 residents in Tulare County, has struggled with crime rates that exceed national averages. According to CrimeGrade.org, the city's violent crime rate stands at 4.534 per 1,000 residents, placing it in the 24th percentile for safety—meaning it's safer than only 24% of U.S. cities. The city recorded three homicides in 2023, down from six in 2022, according to City-Data.com.
However, this case represents something different from typical street crime. Research from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue suggests that "subcultures of nihilistic violence represent a challenge parallel to traditional ideologically-motivated extremist groups," noting that "prevention and law enforcement efforts are largely structured to identify and counter ideologically-motivated threats."
The Growing Threat
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the bureau's commitment to investigating these networks. "This defendant allegedly targeted juveniles, took part in animal crushing, and was part of a violent online network which seeks to sow chaos and destabilize our society," Patel stated, according to the Justice Department. "The FBI will work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and hold accountable anyone who engages in such reprehensible and illegal activity."
The FBI issued a public service announcement in March 2025 warning parents and educators about violent online networks like 764 and CVLT that target minors. According to reporting by NPR, these groups lurk in online forums where vulnerable teens seek community, manipulating them into self-harm, creating explicit content, and committing violence to gain status within the network.
One mother interviewed by NPR described discovering her son had been targeted by such networks after he was hospitalized for self-harm. She found symbols on his body "associated with the Order of Nine Angles," realizing they were "callout signs to 764" indicating membership or victimization.
Legal Implications
The charges against Long involve multiple federal statutes, including the Prevention of Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, which made animal crushing a federal crime in 2019. According to legal experts, the PACT Act criminalized intentional acts of crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, or impaling animals, with violations carrying up to seven years in federal prison.
The sexual exploitation charges carry even more severe mandatory minimum sentences. Federal law requires at least 15 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor, with a maximum of 30 years. If convicted on multiple counts, sentences could run consecutively, potentially resulting in life imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Grant emphasized the significance of the case: "This indictment charges a constellation of offenses related to the troubling emergence of NVEs like '764' and related groups. My office will vigorously investigate and prosecute offenses committed by NVE groups, including those alleged to have been committed by Long against young and vulnerable victims."
Protecting Vulnerable Youth
The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Porterville Police Department and the Tulare County District Attorney's Office. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative to combat child sexual exploitation launched in 2006.
"Violent online networks of predators, such as 764, are exploiting digital platforms to coerce minors and vulnerable individuals into producing graphic content depicting animal abuse, self-harm, and child exploitation," said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel, as quoted in the Justice Department press release. "The FBI will not stand by while these victims suffer."
The Justice Department has created resources for parents, caregivers, and teachers about online risks, available through FBI safety resources. Warning signs that a young person may be under the influence of these networks include isolation from previously enjoyed activities, talking about violent or gory content, evidence of self-harm, and sudden changes in behavior or personality.
Looking Ahead
Long is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. If convicted, Long would join a growing list of 764 network members facing decades in federal prison for crimes that challenge traditional definitions of extremism.
