PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WHTM) \u2014 A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty this week to working with others to distribute videos of monkey torture, the Department of Justice said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Residents reminded to stay off bridge after Mifflin County woman falls from it <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cProducing and trafficking in animal crush videos is a serious federal crime,\u201d United States Attorney Rivetti said. \u201cIntentionally 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Buckland could face up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both.<\/p>\n \u201cBuckland\u2019s decisions, actions, and financial investments directly contributed to the brutal torture of defenseless animals,\u201d Matt Wright, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans, said. \u201cThanks 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.\u201d<\/p>\n