Overview
- An unsealed federal indictment charges five men with a child exploitation enterprise and related conspiracies to produce, distribute and receive child sexual abuse material, and to communicate interstate threats.
- The defendants are Hector Bermudez of Queens, Zachary Dosch of Albuquerque, Rumaldo Valdez of Honolulu, David Brilhante of San Diego, and Camden Rodriguez of Longmont, who were arrested across the United States.
- Prosecutors allege the group used Discord and gaming platforms including Roblox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to coerce minors, some as young as 11, into sexually explicit and degrading acts that were recorded and shared.
- The indictment details extortion tactics such as deploying malware, attempting to frame adult victims as pedophiles, forcing “fansigning,” and repeatedly encouraging victims to commit self-harm or suicide.
- Authorities say Bermudez has been arraigned and held pending further proceedings, and investigators are urging potential victims to contact the FBI as the broader investigation continues under Project Safe Childhood.