A federal grand jury has indicted a Porterville teenager on six felony counts—including animal crushing, sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of child sexual abuse material, cyberstalking, and interstate threats—that could result in a prison sentence of up to 76 years if convicted on all charges.
Prosecutors say Tony Christopher Long, 19 —known online as “Inactive,” “Inactivee0” and “Inactivecvx”—was part of “764,” a criminal network of Nihilistic Violent Extremists accused of targeting vulnerable individuals, including minors, to fuel a campaign of chaos and destruction.
The case stems from federal court filings and a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California. All charges are allegations, and Long is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Attorneys for Long could not be reached for comment.
The investigation is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The FBI led the probe with assistance from the Porterville Police Department and the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office.
Here’s what to know about the case.
Suspect accused of filming animal cruelty
Long faces two federal counts of animal crushing, tied to incidents in Tulare County on Nov. 24 and Dec. 4, 2024. Prosecutors say Long “purposely engaged in animal crushing in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce.”
Under federal law, animal crushing involves intentionally causing severe injury to a mammal, bird, reptile or amphibian through acts such as crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating or impaling.
The indictment alleges Long’s actions were part of a broader pattern of violence promoted by the “764” network. Prosecutors say NVEs use social media and group chats to normalize brutality, including animal abuse, as a tactic to desensitize and corrupt vulnerable individuals. Members reportedly share graphic images and videos to gain notoriety and spread fear.
If convicted, Long faces up to seven years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count, along with up to three years of supervised release.
Porterville teen charged with sexual exploitation of Washington State minor
The indictment alleges that on Nov. 11, 2024, Long conspired with others to coerce and sexually exploit a minor in Washington state, producing visual depictions of sexually explicit conduct. Long is also accused of possessing material involving the same victim on Dec. 10, 2024.
No additional details about Minor Victim 1 are included, in line with federal law protecting the identities of juveniles in sexual exploitation cases.
If convicted, Long faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years for sexual exploitation, and up to 10 years for possession of child sexual abuse material.
Porterville teen charged with cyberstalking Kern County minor
According to the indictment, Long used online messaging services to harass and intimidate a juvenile victim in Kern County in the San Joaquin Valley between Oct. 10 and 11, 2024.
The indictment says Long’s actions were part of a pattern that caused emotional distress to a minor. Prosecutors allege NVEs, including members of the “764” network, run coordinated extortion and blackmail campaigns online, pressuring victims to comply with demands such as creating graphic content or engaging in self-harm. Long’s cyberstalking was not an isolated act, the filing states, but part of a broader scheme. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Long also faces a charge of transmitting an interstate threat with intent to extort, accused of threatening to damage the Kern County minor’s property and reputation. The count carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
What are Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) Networks?
Court filings describe NVEs as individuals or networks intent on destabilizing society through violence, exploitation, and coercion, often leveraging social media to groom and extort victims. Prosecutors allege the “764” network targeted minors and other vulnerable groups, forcing them to create graphic content involving animal abuse, self-harm, and child exploitation.
For more information on protecting children from online exploitation, visit the Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood and review the FBI’s public service announcements for parents, caregivers, and educators.
How parents can help teens stay safe online
The Justice Department’s Project Safe Childhood and FBI Parent Guide to Internet Safety suggest these steps to keep your teen safe online.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: San Joaquin Valley teen indicted in federal probe tied to extremist network
Reporting by James Ward, Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
