A San Antonio man who helped lead a violent online extremist network that targeted children was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on Tuesday, prompting the FBI to issue a renewed warning to parents about the growing threat posed by online groups that groom and exploit vulnerable minors.
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Alexis Aldair Chavez, 19, was sentenced to 40 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, after pleading guilty to racketeering, distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography in connection with his role in an online network, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The FBI said Chavez was an administrator and online leader within a network known as “8884,” where members sought status by recording and sharing acts of abuse committed against victims.
Federal prosecutors said it’s part of a collection of violent online groups commonly referred to as “764.” The FBI describes the groups as nihilistic violent extremist networks — online communities whose members seek to spread fear, chaos and social instability while exploiting vulnerable people, particularly children, through manipulation, coercion and violence.
Authorities said members use social media platforms, messaging apps, gaming services and online chat rooms to identify and groom victims before blackmailing or extorting them into carrying out increasingly harmful acts.
According to court documents, Chavez and others coerced multiple minor victims into acts of self-harm, sexual exploitation and animal cruelty during online video calls. In one instance, prosecutors said Chavez and a co-conspirator attempted to convince a minor girl to end her life by overdosing on pills while they recorded the incident. In other cases, victims were allegedly forced to injure themselves, perform sexually explicit acts or abuse animals while being threatened or blackmailed.
Federal officials said the crimes committed by these groups illustrate why parents should remain actively involved in their children’s online lives.
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“Parents need to know what their children are doing online and must stay engaged, ask difficult questions, and not fall into the trap of believing their child is ‘just playing games’ or ‘just talking with their friends,’” U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas said in the release.
The warning echoes a nationwide public service announcement the FBI issued earlier this year after investigators documented an increase in criminal activity by networks linked to 764.
According to the FBI, victims are often between the ages of 10 and 17, though children as young as 9 have been targeted. Investigators say offenders frequently begin by posing as friends or romantic interests before manipulating victims into sharing explicit images or participating in escalating acts of self-harm. The material is then used to extort victims into complying with additional demands.
The FBI recommends parents and caregivers should watch for sudden behavioral changes, increasing isolation, unexplained cuts or burns, wearing long sleeves in hot weather to hide injuries, fixation on a new online friend, or signs their child is fearful of someone they communicate with online. Authorities also encourage parents to be alert for anonymous gifts, unexpected gaming currency or virtual items, and conversations about self-harm or suicide.
Officials recommend parents regularly discuss online safety with their children, monitor their online activity, and exercise caution when sharing photos or personal information online that could later be exploited.
Anyone who believes a child may be the victim of online exploitation should preserve usernames, messages, images and other evidence before reporting the activity to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the nearest FBI field office or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
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