A Columbia, Tennessee man has been indicted on federal charges following a multi-year investigation into alleged child sexual exploitation tied to extremist-linked online networks, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and federal court filings.
The indictment alleges conduct spanning from 2022 through 2025, centered on claims that Zachary Sweeney, 30, used online platforms to groom minors, solicit explicit material, and maintain control over victims through coercion, threats, and manipulation.
The case centers on claims that some victims were also subjected to in-person encounters where assaults were allegedly recorded, according to documents reviewed by investigators.
Investigators describe Sweeney’s case as involving connections to nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) networks, including online groups associated with the collective known as “764.”
Federal descriptions characterize these networks as decentralized online communities operating across social media and encrypted platforms, often relying on coercion, blackmail, and intimidation tactics to target vulnerable individuals, particularly minors.
Documents reviewed by investigators indicate that multiple minors were allegedly groomed online and pressured into producing child sexual abuse material.
In some instances, victims were reportedly coerced into participating in online sessions involving degrading behavior and self-harm-related acts.
The material was then allegedly stored and used as leverage to maintain continued control over victims through threats of exposure and further coercion, according to WKRN.
The indictment further alleges that at least one victim first encountered Sweeney as a teenager and was gradually drawn into escalating levels of exploitation over time.
That individual reportedly described sustained pressure to comply with demands involving explicit material and online activity and said she was aware of other victims allegedly subjected to similar conduct.
Authorities also noted that one victim referenced in the investigation later died of a drug overdose, a detail included in federal court filings, according to WTVF.
Federal officials say the broader investigation highlights growing concerns about online exploitation networks that operate across multiple platforms while shifting identities to evade detection.
Investigators describe these groups as relying on anonymity, encrypted communication, and social media platforms to recruit and control victims through psychological manipulation and coercion.
U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek said the case reflects the severity of federal enforcement efforts targeting such conduct.
“Our office and our law enforcement partners will do whatever it takes to stop these predators from harming more children and hold them accountable for the damage they have already caused,” he said.
FBI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly also emphasized ongoing enforcement efforts.
“This operation puts every child predator on notice: the FBI will hunt you down and bring you to justice,” he said.
In a post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel said that NVE and 764-linked exploitation “continues to be one of the most important issues this FBI confronts every day,” citing major enforcement increases and account takedowns.
According to federal assessments, these networks frequently shift between platforms while maintaining similar tactics aimed at vulnerable individuals.
Parel urged parents to monitor their children’s online activity and report suspicious behavior to the FBI.
Sweeney is charged with multiple counts of child sexual exploitation and is scheduled to appear in federal court.
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing, and additional findings may be presented as the case proceeds in federal court.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katy Risinger and Zachary T. Hinkle, with assistance from the DOJ’s National Security Division.
