LOS ANGELES
Federal authorities have arrested a 27-year-old Downey man accused of possessing child pornography and exploiting minors online as part of a nihilistic extremist network, officials stated.
Dong Hwan Kim, also known online as “Ryzen” and “Lobster,” was taken into custody on Wednesday at his home by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force after a federal search warrant uncovered child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
According to a federal complaint, Kim lured several minor girls between 2022 and the present into producing explicit photos and videos.
Prosecutors allege he then extorted victims by threatening to share the material with their families unless they complied with his demands for more.
Investigators say Kim was an active participant in “764,” a nihilistic violent extremist group known for exploiting children online to sow chaos and undermine governments.
Members of the group reportedly use social media to share CSAM, gore, and pressure victims into acts of self-harm, violence, or sexual exploitation.
The complaint details that Kim ran an online server where he and others traded CSAM, coercing minors to perform degrading and abusive acts.
Agents recovered multiple videos and photos in his possession and evidence that he shared the material with others, boasting about his actions.
Kim faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
Authorities believe additional victims may exist and urge anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.