U.S. indictment alleges child sex abuse ring

The 15-year-old girl was sitting in her bedroom when "Sociopath" and "Rohan" added her to a Discord chat that, several months later, would nearly end in her death.

- BY CLARA HARTER AND BRITTNY MEJIA

She said within hours of joining the chat on the online messaging platform in 2020, she became the target of a network of predators who, according to federal prosecutors in an indictment, specialize in coercing minors to perform sex acts and self-harm on camera.

She said she initially met Sociopath, identified in the indictment as Kaleb Merritt, during the pandemic on Discord servers dedicated to online games. She said he offered her an upgraded version of Discord in exchange for a conversation. Then, he added her to the chat with Rohan — later identified in the indictment as Rohan Rane.

The teen, whose name is being withheld because of safety concerns, had no idea she was being pulled into a highly organized and terrifying scheme that has ensnared minors across America, including girls in Los Angeles and San Bernardino, according to interviews with victims and federal agents, and a federal indictment in the Central District Court of California.

Members of the sex-exploitation ring seek vulnerable girls, having found many in online communities dedicated to mental health or survivors of prior abuse, according to the federal agents.

In the early morning hours of July 4, 2020, Rohan and Kaleb, as she came to know them, sent the 15-yearold girl her home and school addresses, photos of her family, a screenshot of where her little sister's sports team practiced and a trove of other personal information in the Discord group chat, she told The Times in an interview.

Next, she said, they sent her videos of minors performing sexual acts, followed by videos of homes being raided by SWAT teams, which they said happened to those who disobey them, echoing extortion tactics alleged in the indictment.

Then, they gave the teenager orders: Turn on your camera and do exactly what we say.

She felt like there was a digital gun pressed against her head.