MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A popular social media platform is at the center of a disturbing case involving a teen from Macomb Township.
A federal complaint has left many unsettled, prompting a prosecutor to struggle to maintain composure in court.
Emotional Proceedings in Federal Court
On Wednesday (June 18) afternoon in federal court, the prosecutor read the criminal complaint, detailing the charges that are too graphic to repeat.
The emotional weight of the case led the prosecutor to take a brief break before continuing.
Prosecutors revealed that they have only begun to investigate two of the usernames linked to the case out of more than a dozen. They felt compelled to take action this week.
FBI Raid Shocks Neighbors
Neighbors shared their reactions as they were shocked by the FBI’s presence.
One neighbor recalled seeing a bunch of FBI out there and eventually knocking the door down.
The details of the charges have left residents on Ring Neck Drive in Macomb County gasping.
“It’s scary. It’s very scary,” another neighbor said, reflecting on the unsettling news.
The FBI has visited the home of 18-year-old Jolyan Zahrah at least twice.
Witnesses described seeing Zahrah being taken away in handcuffs.
Allegations of Disturbing Content
Zahrah was arrested on Monday after receiving tips from a user on the Discord chatting app and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Those tips linked dozens of so-called “animal crushing videos” and child sexual abuse material to the teen, with incidents dating back to September 2023.
During the FBI raid in April, Zahrah reportedly handed over his iPhone, which was still logged into 13 different Gmail accounts.
He admitted to using the app and his involvement in a terror network known as “764.”
Investigators found that he had viewed images of children between five and 10 years old, expressing regret for his actions.
The FBI uncovered dozens of videos depicting sexual and torturous acts on various animals, including puppies, kittens, turtles, deer, rats, snakes, and frogs.
Zahrah allegedly confessed to another user that he watched child pornography as a test but found “more pleasure in kicking dogs.”
What is 764?
According to the FBI, 764 and related groups are Nihilistic Violent Extremists who engage in criminal conduct within the United States and engage with other extremists.
The 764 network’s goals include social unrest and the downfall of the current world order, including the United States government, said the FBI.
764 members work with one another towards a common purpose of destroying civilized society through “the corruption and exploitation of vulnerable populations, including minors.”
Community Concerns and Disturbing Searches
Residents expressed their fears, particularly parents with young children.
“It’s scary because I have a 7-year-old and a 14-year-old, and there are little kids running up and down the street all day,” one parent shared.
Prosecutors also referenced Zahrah’s alarming Google search history, which included queries about mass shootings, spree shootings, school shootings, and “how to buy a gun in Michigan.”
To report federal crimes and submit tips regarding terrorist activity to the FBI, visit here.