LOS ANGELES, CA – A federal grand jury has indicted four individuals connected to a neo-Nazi online network, accusing them of grooming and coercing more than a dozen children worldwide to produce explicit and violent material. Two of the victims were identified in Southern California, while others spanned various parts of the globe.
The United States Department of Justice announced that the accused include Collin John Thomas Walker, 23, of Bridgeton, New Jersey; Clint Jordan Lopaka Nahooikaika Borge, 41, of Pahoa, Hawaii; Kaleb Christopher Merritt, 24, of Spring, Texas; and Rohan Sandeep Rane, 28, of Antibes, France. Walker and Borge were arrested Thursday, while Merritt and Rane were already in custody for related crimes.
The indictment alleges that the men were involved in leading and managing an international neo-Nazi group that promoted pedophilia, nihilism, and extremist ideologies. From 2019 to 2022, the group’s online platform provided a space where members worked collectively to groom vulnerable children, desensitizing them through escalating abuse and degrading acts.
The DOJ stated that children targeted by the group were often already struggling with mental health challenges or previous trauma, making them susceptible to manipulation. Victims were subjected to dehumanizing demands such as cutting their hair, engaging in self-harm, consuming their urine, and carving names into their skin. Some were coerced into producing child pornography, while others were pressured to consider suicide, sometimes during live video sessions.
If victims resisted or attempted to seek help, the group resorted to blackmail, threatening to leak graphic materials to their families and friends. In some instances, these threats were carried out, increasing the psychological toll on the victims.
Sixteen minors were identified as victims, according to the DOJ’s investigation. The Los Angeles Police Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were among the agencies involved in uncovering the abuse affecting children in Southern California.
“This neo-Nazi group preyed on the vulnerable and inflicted unimaginable harm,” said Eddy Wang of Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles. “Their sick desires altered the trajectory of many young lives.”
If convicted, the defendants face minimum sentences of 20 years and could be sentenced to life in prison. Rane has been detained in France since 2022 on child exploitation charges, while Merritt is currently serving a 50-year sentence in Virginia for child sex abuse crimes.
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide DOJ initiative aimed at combating child exploitation and abuse. Federal officials have emphasized the importance of vigilance and reporting in addressing online threats to minors.
For those experiencing mental distress or suicidal thoughts, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available by phone or text. Visit 988lifeline.org for additional resources.
