PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WHTM) — A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty this week to working with others to distribute videos of monkey torture, the Department of Justice said.
Joseph Buckland, 44, of Mount Pleasant, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 29 after he pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos, the DOJ said.
Buckland and others combined money to create the videos that the DOJ said showed monkeys being crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated and impaled. Those videos were then distributed to other members in the group and also in chat groups.
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“Producing and trafficking in animal crush videos is a serious federal crime,” United States Attorney Rivetti said. “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.”
The DOJ said, Buckland admitted to sending money more than 15 times to commission the videos and collecting money from others to create the videos.
Buckland could face up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both.
“Buckland’s decisions, actions, and financial investments directly contributed to the brutal torture of defenseless animals,” Matt Wright, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans, said. “Thanks to the diligent investigative efforts of our special agents, in collaboration with the FBI, he has now admitted his role and will face justice in federal court. HSI will continue to investigate these heinous crimes and work with our law enforcement partners, domestically and abroad, to identify, pursue, and hold offenders accountable.”
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The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans’ Cyber and Human Exploitation Investigations and the FBI.
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