An Illinois resident pleaded guilty to charges under federal law on April 15 for financing and distributing videos depicting the sexual torture and murder of monkeys.
U.S. citizen Amanda Leigh Fourez paid thousands of dollars for “animal crush videos” that depict the burning of live monkeys and genital mutilation. She distributed the videos among members of chat groups, according to ICE Homeland Security Investigations.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations, together with the FBI, made a joint investigation into the case. It has been reported that Fourez played an important role in online groups that produced and distributed illegal content.
Another person involved in the case, Joseph Garrett Buckland from Pennsylvania, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to it.
The case illustrates the broad scope of ICE’s mandate to enforce hundreds of federal laws, including those related to cybercrime.
Sentencing is still pending.
