A 23-year-old New Jersey man has been accused of being active in a globally dangerous, neo-Nazi child exploitation group known as CVLT, which operates largely on the internet. Colin John Thomas Walker, from Bridgeton, was arrested on Friday, facing federal charges of engaging in a child exploitation enterprise. Prosecutors stated the group has preyed on vulnerable minors globally, accusing them of grooming children and encouraging them to produce sexual abuse material.
Authorities report Walker joined CVLT at least as early as 2020. According to the Department of Justice, the organization groomed and pressured minors, especially those with mental health challenges or histories of sexual abuse, to engage in dehumanizing acts. These included self-harm behaviors such as cutting and eating hair, drinking urine, and carving names of CVLT members onto their skin. "Victims were encouraged to engage in increasingly dehumanizing acts," officials noted, showcasing the depths of depravity within this network.
Walker is not alone; the federal indictment also includes three other individuals from diverse locations: Rohan Sandeep Rane of Antibes, France; Kaleb Christopher Merritt of Spring, Texas; and Clint Jordan Lopaka Nahooikaika Borge from Pahoa, Hawaii. Merritt is currently serving a 50-year sentence for previous child sex abuse crimes, and Rane has been incarcerated in France on charges related to child exploitation since 2022.
If convicted, the accused could each face minimum sentences of 20 years, with the maximum penalty being life imprisonment. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, launched nationwide to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Meanwhile, another unsettling case unfolded involving another alleged cult-related incident. A father-son duo, Lagarthucin LeGrand and his son, Lagarthucin Jr., were indicted for their involvement in a gang-related shooting at a baby shower in Richmond Hill, Queens, on May 4, 2024, indicating the persistent violence linked to the LeGrand family, infamous for cultivating criminal behavior.
The shooting ended sadly with one victim, 24-year-old Jefari Dobie-Reinhardt, dead, and three others injured. Video footage allegedly captured the elder LeGrand manipulating the scene, trying to conceal the weapon used for the murder—a 9mm Sig Sauer pistol hidden within a tray of rice. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz described the chaotic scene as akin to "the Wild West," emphasizing how senseless gun violence disrupted what should have been a joyous event.
Lagarthucin LeGrand is facing charges, including weapon possession and evidence tampering, with potential incarceration of up to 11 years. His son faces lighter charges but could still face four years behind bars. This incident follows the notorious history of the LeGrand family, whose legacy includes horrific acts of violence and manipulation spanning decades.
Decades ago, Lagarthucin’s father, DeVernon LeGrand, ran a bogus Brooklyn church and attracted minors who were forced to fundraise unlawfully. His actions, described as both abusive and manipulative, laid the groundwork for the family’s reputation for violence. After being convicted of multiple heinous crimes, DeVernon’s history of abuse seems to linger as the family continues to appear on law enforcement radars.
The attorney representing Lagarthucin Jr., Kenneth Montgomery, argued against the violent caricatures often linked to his family. "People are complicated; people are interesting, complex," he stated, hinting at the individual narratives behind the actions. The broader societal issue of cult-related activities and their intersection with organized crime surfaces again through this incident, signaling the persistent threat posed by such groups.
Overall, these two recent events—the arrest of Walker and the shooting involving the LeGrand family—underscore severe issues linked to cult-related activities and criminal behaviors flourishing under the radar of society. Such incidents raise urgent questions about child safety and the protective measures effective against such extremist groups preying on the vulnerable and perpetuating cycles of violence.
Both cases reflect stark realities of deep-rooted societal issues, illustrating the need for vigilance, awareness, and comprehensive strategies to combat such forms of exploitation and violence targeting the most defenseless among us. The investigation continues, and authorities are determined to bring justice to all affected by these tragic, cult-related crimes.