Rohan Rane CVLT exploitation ring trial and sentencing

Rohan Sandeep Rane, a 29-year-old Indian national, underwent trial in Paris for his alleged leadership of CVLT, an international child exploitation ring. The investigation, which began with alerts from the FBI in 2021, focused on an online network that operated between 2019 and 2021. Prosecutors alleged the group used platforms like Discord to coerce minors in the United States, Britain, and Canada into producing violent and sexualized content.

The prosecution described the group as part of a radicalized, misogynistic, and nihilistic online scene that utilized neo-Nazi aesthetics. Victims were reportedly coerced into roles described in court documents as being ‘slaves’ to the organization.

Following the trial, which was held behind closed doors to protect victim privacy, a Paris court sentenced Rane to 20 years in prison. He was found guilty of offenses including extortion as part of an organized gang, as well as acts of torture and barbarity. While approximately 20 victims were identified, at least six filed official complaints. Additionally, at least three other members of the group have been arrested in the United States.