Nihilistic Violent Extremist group member pleads guilty to child exploitation offenses

A Florida man has pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing and possessing child pornography during his time in so-called "nihilistic violent extremist groups."

The Justice Department said Monday that 26-year-old Shawn Krishendat Premsook of Clermont, Florida, was a member of 764 and other Nihilistic Violent Extremist groups for about two years. 

Such groups or networks are identified by the Justice Department as a "dangerous and growing category of online predators that represent a "decentralized extremist subculture that weaponizes digital platforms to exploit and radicalize children. 

The department says such perpetrators also may be engaging in criminal activity for "sexual gratification, seeing an opening to prey on children and that others may be drawn to the groups "by a desire for social status or a sense of belonging
and may not be ideologically motivated."

Premscok extorted minors to engage in self harm in addition to collecting and distributing gore and child pornography images and videos of children whom 764 members had victimized, also according to the department.

On numerous occasions, he also caused a minor girl to cut herself and use her blood to write messages including his online alias, the DOJ also said.

764 is an online, global network of nihilistic and violent extremists and sexual predators known for its criminal activities, which includes distributing child sex abuse material, swatting, SIM swapping and doxing. The group primarily targets children and teenagers on gaming and social media platforms.

For each distribution offense, Premsook is facing a maximum 20-year prison sentence and five years at minimum, and for each possession offense, he’s facing 10 years at most.

The FBI investigated the case.

Katherine Pugh is a reporter for Just the News. Follow her on X for more coverage.