A Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania resident pleaded guilty on Apr. 1 to conspiring to create and distribute animal crush videos involving the violent torture of monkeys, according to United States Attorney Troy Rivetti.
The plea highlights federal efforts to address crimes involving cruelty toward animals and the broader risks such conduct poses to society. The case underscores law enforcement’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting violations related to animal abuse.
Joseph Garrett Buckland, 44, entered his guilty plea before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. According to information presented in court, Buckland and others pooled money together on more than 15 occasions to commission videos depicting monkeys being subjected to severe harm such as crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling or other forms of serious bodily injury. These videos were then distributed among group members through an instant messaging application.
“Producing and trafficking in animal crush videos is a serious federal crime,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “Intentionally inflicting harm and torture on innocent animals not only feeds a broader market of criminal depravity, it also often is linked to, or leads to, additional dangerous and violent conduct that further erodes society and public safety. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and prosecute all crimes involving violations of federal law relating to horrific acts of cruelty to animals.”
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division said: “Today’s plea should serve as a warning: animal crush videos are illegal and we will prosecute individuals engaged in this sadistic behavior. Investigating and prosecuting cases like this is not easy, and we commend all who worked to bring this perpetrator to justice.” Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans added: “Buckland’s decisions, actions, and financial investments directly contributed to the brutal torture of defenseless animals… HSI will continue…to identify, pursue, and hold offenders accountable.”
Sentencing for Buckland is scheduled for October 29. He faces up to five years in prison or a fine up $250,000 or both; actual sentencing will depend on the seriousness of the offense as well as any prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher from the Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney’s Office along with Trial Attorney Emily Stone from the Department of Justice are prosecuting this case.
Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans’ Cyber and Human Exploitation Investigations unit along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading up to these charges.
