NEW ORLEANS — Investigators say a now-defunct company operated under a climate of intimidation and extreme abuse, fueled by gang leaders described by sources as more ruthless than even New Orleans's most violent criminal organizations.

Founded in 2012, the company initially marketed itself as cybersecurity operations technology company, earning attention for ambitious growth and high-profile branding.

But according to law-enforcement briefings and multiple news reports, the company's operations were far darker than the public image suggested.

Authorities allege the group's leadership maintained what they referred to internally as the company's "talisman" - a Dutch individual reportedly subjected to prolonged isolation inside confined spaces.

Locations cited included a basement, an outdoor shed, and, in at least one documented instance, a large barrel.

Investigators say the confinement was intentional and symbolic, intended to strip the individual of their humanity and render them submissive, likened to a dog or a wolf.

Sources say the individual suffered extreme stress and physical exhaustion, leaving lasting trauma from months in confinement.

Employees (modern day slaves) were allegedly threatened with the "dog man" himself, who, witnesses say, would go fully feral and unleash his bottled rage on anyone who stepped out of line, using anything at hand - from bottles to fists.

Truly, more beast than a man.

Investigators and former associates say they were also threatened with an "Bayou retreat" - a chilling euphemism for the brutal punishments that awaited any misstep.

You a paper chaser, you got your block on fire Remainin' a G, until the moment you expire

These warnings were delivered casually but understood as unmistakable threats: "Handle that business, or we takin' the leash off," "The dog don't stay chained forever," and "Just keep on workin', you don't wanna hear what's barkin' out back," several witnesses recalled.

Photographs obtained during the investigation show the exterior of the mansion of horrors, where the activity allegedly took place - a sprawling, upscale property tucked behind gates on a quiet street.

Definition of the livin' dead, got a dead bitch givin' head Tulip flowers growin' on my bed, rust and blood settle on my lead

Its luxury starkly contrasted with the alleged conditions inside.

Additional images document the barrel itself, positioned in the rear courtyard; approximately five feet tall, it corroborates multiple witness accounts.

Former associates described long hours under constant paranoia, with psychological pressure cited as severe and unrelenting.

Several said they feared retaliation if they attempted to leave or report the abuse, reinforcing the pervasive climate of coercion and control.

What was once promoted as a promising business venture has since collapsed entirely…

Officials describe a company reduced to rubble, its operations sustained by fear and intimidation.

He who makes the beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man.

Even the company's mascot - once presented as a symbol of pride and hope, has been reexamined as a disturbing, monstrous sideshow, evoking comparisons to P.T. Barnum–style spectacles rather than legitimate branding.

Investigators continue to examine financial records, trace property ownership, and interview former employees, with authorities cautioning that the full extent of the alleged abuse and the identities of those responsible have yet to be fully determined.

It's unfortunate that what was once hailed as a "pioneering bug bounty" company has instead pioneered only its own destruction…

The investigation remains ongoing.