A federal court on Wednesday sentenced Alexis Aldair Chavez, 19, of San Antonio to 40 years in prison and lifetime supervised release after he pleaded guilty to racketeering and two counts related to child pornography, authorities said.
Charges and role in criminal network
Chavez admitted to participation in a criminal organization identified in court filings as "764," which federal prosecutors say engaged in the production, possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material and other violent offenses. According to the Department of Justice news release, Chavez pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of racketeering, one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.
Prosecutors described Chavez as an administrator and online leader of a subgroup called "8884," and said he ran a private chat known as "8884 Hellchamber." Court documents allege members of the network groomed children and teenagers online and coerced victims into creating illicit images and videos, sometimes by encouraging self-harm or violence.
Scope of conduct and timeline
Federal filings place Chavez's criminal activity beginning as early as May 2022 and continuing until at least July 2024. Investigators say some members sought notoriety within the network by posting violent content and forcing victims to produce material under duress. The organization allegedly also engaged in murder and other serious offenses, according to the government.
- Defendant: Alexis Aldair Chavez, 19, San Antonio resident
- Sentence: 40 years in prison; lifetime supervised release
- Convictions: Racketeering; distribution and possession of child pornography
- Alleged network: Referred to as "764," with subgroups including "8884"
“What Alexis Chavez and other members of these Nihilistic Violent Extremist groups have done to the vulnerable children they target is among the most disturbing conduct this office has prosecuted,” U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas said in a news release.
Local impact and law enforcement response
The sentence underscores federal prosecutors’ focus on dismantling online networks that exploit minors. For San Antonio, the case highlights intersections of child-protection work, cybercrime investigation and federal prosecutorial resources. While local agencies often respond to initial reports and assist victims, prosecutions for transregional online networks typically involve collaboration with federal authorities, as happened here.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Case status | Guilty pleas entered (Dec 2025); sentence imposed (July 2026) |
| Jurisdiction | Western District of Texas — federal court |
Federal officials said the defendant's conduct included coercion of victims into harming themselves or others and creating sexual or violent content. Those allegations, described in court documents, reflect a pattern prosecutors characterized as deliberately predatory and organized.
Victim support, child-protection services and continued investigative work remain priorities after the conviction. The lengthy prison term sends a clear message from the U.S. Attorney’s Office about the penalties for running or administering networks that exploit children online.
