Four More Plead Guilty in Monkey 'Animal Crush' Video Conspiracy That Paid for Torture Filmed in Indonesia
The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Oct. 23 that four more defendants pleaded guilty in federal court in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the monkey "animal crush" video conspiracy. A total of 11 defendants were charged in the case in 2025.
According to court records, the group used the messaging app Telegram to discuss ideas for animal-torture videos, then wired money to people in Indonesia who were willing to abuse monkeys on camera as directed, paying them through online payment apps.
The four defendants who pleaded guilty are: Ernest Chavez (Arizona), who pleaded guilty on Oct. 23; Mary Longoria (North Carolina), who pleaded guilty July 16 and will be sentenced Dec. 2; Kimberly Anglin (Connecticut), who pleaded guilty Aug. 12 and will be sentenced Dec. 2; and Patrick Naylor (North Carolina), who pleaded guilty Aug. 14 and will be sentenced Dec. 17.
The U.S. Attorney's Office also announced that co-defendant Nicholas Dryden (Cincinnati) was previously sentenced to 108 months (nine years) in prison for producing and distributing animal crush videos.
The case was announced by Adam Gustafson, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD); Dominick S. Gerace II, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Cincinnati field office; and Doug Ault, Assistant Director for Law Enforcement at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the FBI and is being prosecuted by ENRD Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman. Sentencing will be determined by the federal court.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 猕猴（资料图）。\nPhoto: Charles J. Sharp / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
