Key facts
- Kyle Spitze, 27, was sentenced to 77 years in federal prison.
- The sentence is for crimes committed as part of the online extremist group '764'.
- Spitze was convicted of producing child sexual abuse material and abetting the distribution of animal crushing videos.
- The FBI described the '764' network as 'modern-day terrorism'.
- Spitze claimed to have groomed over 2,600 victims, leading to two suicides.
A 27-year-old man from Tennessee, Kyle Spitze, has been sentenced to 77 years in federal prison for his role in an online extremist group known as '764'. The U.S. Justice Department described Spitze as a 'nihilistic violent extremist' and the group as a form of 'modern-day terrorism' that targeted children.
Spitze received the sentence on Wednesday for charges including the production of child sexual abuse material, abetting the distribution of animal crushing videos, and possessing child sexual exploitation material with intent to view. U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the prosecution of such crimes is a priority, aiming to bring justice to harmed families and children.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the agency's commitment to apprehending online predators. John Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division, identified Spitze, also known by online aliases such as 'Crimhn', 'Criminal', and 'Criminaloli', as an original member of 'Harm Nation' and '764'. These groups reportedly aimed to destabilize society through terrorism, specifically by targeting vulnerable individuals, extorting them into criminal sexual conduct, self-harm, and potentially mass casualty events.
Investigators arrested Spitze in 2024 after discovering images and videos of two minor victims on his cellphone. One victim reported being threatened by Spitze to create the images, which included 'crim' written on her chest in her own blood. Spitze subsequently pleaded guilty to the charges. Prosecutors highlighted that Spitze claimed to have groomed over 2,600 victims, with two ultimately dying by suicide due to his actions.