East London Man Busted Over Child Abuse Images and Online Blackmail Ring
A 21-year-old Hackney man linked to a vile online group that blackmailed teenage girls has been convicted. Richard Ehiemere was caught hoarding indecent images of children and involved in a criminal network that coerced youngsters into sending explicit photos.
How the Dark Web Group CVLT Operated
The National Crime Agency (NCA) began probing Ehiemere in January 2021 after Discord flagged suspicious activity tied to CVLT—a notorious ‘Com’ network known for sharing misogynistic and harmful content.
- CVLT members, mostly young men, boost their status by shocking and illegal actions.
- Ehiemere used the alias “Retaliate#1337” and accessed CVLT channels over 380 times.
- He traded stolen email and password combos and shared illegal child images.
- Investigators found 29 indecent images classified from category A to C on his phone.
Ehiemere’s tech stash included a computer with 142 stolen combo lists and VPN software to hide his tracks. Apps like ExpressVPN and NordVPN helped mask his identity during these crimes.
Horrific Blackmail of Teenage Girls
CVLT targeted girls on social media, using fake profiles to pressure them into sending intimate photos. Those who resisted faced threats of ‘doxxing’—having their personal info leaked online.
- Victims were coerced into sharing increasingly explicit images.
- Girls were forced into group calls to perform sexual acts or even self-harm.
- In shocking cases, victims were pushed to attempt suicide on camera.
Justice on the Horizon
Ehiemere faces justice after being convicted in a high-profile seven-day trial at Aldersgate Nightingale Court. He will be sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on May 1.
“Richard Ehiemere was a key enabler for this harmful online group, providing stolen data which they could use to defraud hundreds of victims. Com networks like CVLT are dangerous online environments built on extremist and misogynistic ideologies promoting violence against women and girls,” said Steve Laval, Senior Investigating Officer at the NCA’s Cyber Crime Unit.
“The NCA and police are committed to rooting out these groups, removing harmful content, and educating parents and educators to spot deviant behaviour.”
