Pennsylvania Man Arrested in California, Federally Charged After Alleged Online Grooming of Minor

An 18-year-old Pennsylvania man has been arrested in Southern California and charged in federal court after allegedly traveling across state lines to engage in illicit conduct with a 13-year-old minor he met online.

Matthew Edward Pysher of Bangor, Pennsylvania, was taken into custody in Castaic, California, and is charged by federal criminal complaint with travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. If convicted, the charge carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison.

According to court filings, investigators allege that between December 2025 and February 2026, Pysher communicated with the minor through an online platform and persuaded her to send sexually explicit material. Authorities also allege he encouraged acts of self-harm during their online exchanges.

The investigation began after the victim’s mother contacted federal authorities with concerns about online communications involving her daughter. Law enforcement reviewed digital records and identified travel from Pennsylvania to California.

On February 20, Pysher allegedly flew from Philadelphia to Los Angeles, met the minor near her residence, and transported her to a motel in Castaic. When law enforcement entered the room later that day, they encountered both individuals and recovered travel documentation, electronic devices, a Faraday bag designed to block electronic signals, and items consistent with planned sexual activity.

Authorities state the victim reported that sexual conduct occurred during the encounter.

Federal officials further indicated that digital evidence suggests possible alignment with nihilistic violent extremist (NVE) ideology. Investigators referenced online extremist subcultures, including groups identified in prior federal reporting such as “764,” whose members have been linked to the exploitation of vulnerable minors through manipulation and coercion conducted online.

Federal authorities describe nihilistic violent extremists as individuals or loosely connected networks who promote anti-societal narratives centered on chaos, destabilization, and the rejection of social norms. Investigators state that some of these online communities target vulnerable minors through digital manipulation, coercion, and psychological pressure.

The complaint outlines that members of certain extremist subcultures use social media platforms and private servers to identify at-risk youth, escalate control through isolation tactics, and normalize harmful conduct over time. Law enforcement officials have previously warned that these networks may combine ideological rhetoric with criminal exploitation.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, is leading the investigation. Authorities confirmed that digital forensic analysis remains ongoing and that investigators are reviewing online communications and associated accounts to determine whether additional victims or collaborators may be involved.

Assistant United States Attorneys from the National Security Division and Major Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint contains allegations only. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The investigation remains active.

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