Skip to content
Federal prosecutors allege that a Maryland man used Roblox and other online platforms to target and extort minors into performing sexual and violent acts as part of his participation in an extremist online network, The Baltimore Sun reported Monday.
According to a 49-page federal affidavit unsealed in Maryland’s U.S. District Court, 20-year-old Erik Lee Madison of Baltimore, allegedly posed as a Roblox user who issued disturbing commands to children he met on the platform. The FBI says the minors were coerced into engaging in sexually exploitative behavior and acts of self-harm, with threats of exposure or retaliation if they disobeyed. In one case, Madison reportedly urged a minor to injure a family pet, though she refused.
Investigators allege that Madison offered in-game rewards such as Robux for compliance but used fear and intimidation when victims resisted. Some children were reportedly threatened with being “swatted,” having private images shared, or being harmed along with their families. The FBI traced communications to Madison’s accounts on both Roblox and Discord, where he allegedly used the alias “Leo.”
When federal agents raided his Halethorpe home, they reportedly found disturbing handwritten notes and other evidence connecting him to the online group known as 764, a network described by the Department of Justice as an “online terror organization.” The group is accused of exploiting minors and coercing them into producing self-harm or sexualized content shared among its members. Its founder was sentenced to 80 years in prison in 2023.
Madison is currently being held in federal custody without bail, facing multiple felony counts of cyberstalking, coercion, and sexual exploitation of minors. Authorities also noted that Madison had previous contact with law enforcement as a juvenile after being charged with animal abuse and possession of child sexual abuse material in 2022.
The FBI says Madison’s actions were not isolated incidents, but part of a larger web of online abuse that has weaponized gaming platforms like Roblox to reach children. Parents are urged to closely monitor online interactions, even on games marketed as “safe spaces” for kids.
Click here for more coverage on Roblox
Families nationwide are filing lawsuits against Roblox Corporation, alleging the company failed to protect minors from predators and online exploitation. Learn how you can take action and explore your legal rights.
Read the Roblox Lawsuit Guide and see if your case qualifies for legal action by completing the confidential, secure form below.
