Washington, D.C. — A man from New Jersey has been sentenced to four years in federal prison due to his involvement in a shocking online conspiracy aimed at creating and distributing videos that depict the torture and mutilation of monkeys, as announced by the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday.
Giancarlo Morelli, hailing from Wharton, New Jersey, has received a 48-month prison term for conspiring to produce and disseminate “animal crush” videos, which are a type of illegal content showcasing extreme violence against animals. The videos in question featured young monkeys enduring horrific abuse.
Court documents reveal that Morelli made payments to another individual on 19 different occasions for custom videos that portrayed the torture of baby and adolescent monkeys. The depicted acts included the burning and mutilation of the animals’ genitals, among other gruesome forms of abuse.
Prosecutors indicated that Morelli was not merely a passive viewer—he actively engaged with the video creator, offering detailed feedback and suggestions for future content.
‘Despicable and Sadistic Conspiracies’
“Those making or sharing animal crush videos have reason to fear capture and swift justice,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Congress has said clearly that this conduct has no place in our society.”
“This sentence shows our resolve to punish everyone who participates in these despicable and sadistic conspiracies,” added U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio.
Federal officials emphasized the collaborative work of the FBI and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in uncovering the network and bringing Morelli to justice.
“The acts of torture and abuse of young monkeys in this case are beyond disturbing,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Adam Lawson. “As a result of the work of federal law enforcement, those involved in the creation and distribution of these repulsive animal torture videos are being held accountable.”
Animal crush videos have been illegal under federal law since 2010, and Congress has since strengthened penalties for those involved in their production and distribution. The Department of Justice has prioritized identifying and prosecuting offenders involved in such crimes.
“Such acts are universally condemned,” said Doug Ault, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement. “We commend vigilant members of the public who report these crimes. As this case shows, we will aggressively pursue those responsible.”
