Minors Extorted To Make Porn, Cut Themselves For Online Extremist Group Member: Prosecutors

DOWNEY, CA — A Downey man who is believed to be part of a violent extremist group has been charged with possession of child pornography, according to the United States Attorney's Office.

Federal prosecutors say that for the last three years, Dong Hwan Kim, 27, convinced several underage girls to send him pictures and videos of themselves engaging in sexual acts. The 27-year-old then extorted the girls, threatening to send the videos to their families if they didn't send more, according to authorities.

Kim is also accused of running an online server where he created, posted and traded child porn with other people. In that server, he'd also extort minors to cut themselves, write names on their skins and insert foreign objects into their genitals, according to federal prosecutors.

While investigating Kim, federal agents found several videos and photos depicting children being sexually abused, according to the United States Attorney's Office.

The 27-year-old Downey man is suspected of being part of a nihilist violent extremist group known as the 764, according to federal prosecutors.

The group is known to commit crimes in both the United States and abroad in "furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society at large and a desire to bring about its collapse by sowing indiscriminate chaos, destruction, and social instability," according to federal prosecutors.

Members of the group are known to target vulnerable people, including minors, using social media platforms to groom them into committing violent crimes.

"Victims can be blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, which vary, but may include self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder," according to federal prosecutors.

Kim was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a federal criminal complaint charging him with possession of child pornography. If convicted of the charges, he faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, according to federal authorities.

The FBI, which investigated the case, believes there may be more victims. The agency asks that anyone who believes they were victimized or knows someone who may have been a victim of the allegations against Kim contact the FBI at 1-800-225-5324.