Four people admitted to participating in online groups dedicated to producing and sharing videos of monkeys being tortured and sexually abused, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Ernest Chavez, Mary Longoria, Kimberly Anglin, and Patrick Naylor each pleaded guilty to conspiring to create and distribute these “animal crush” videos.
Court documents show that the defendants and their co-conspirators used Telegram to discuss how they wanted monkeys tortured, then funneled money through online payment apps to fund the cruelty.
The four individuals were among 11 people indicted in 2025 for allegedly paying Nicholas T. Dryden — a central figure in the global monkey torture ring who was sentenced to 108 months in prison in July — to arrange for a minor in Indonesia to inflict the requested abuse on monkeys.
Lady Freethinker and Action for Primates first exposed the horrific, underground world of baby monkey torture in 2021 after investigating a private group paying for custom videos online. Evidence gathered through those investigations contributed to the BBC documentary “The Monkey Haters” and has been shared with law enforcement worldwide.
Since that time, numerous individuals involved with these groups have been charged and convicted. Nothing can undo the suffering these monkeys endured, but raising awareness and speaking out can help protect others from cruelty.
Lady Freethinker remains committed to uncovering this abuse and pursuing justice for every animal victim by holding those responsible accountable.
