Florida man admits to distributing videos of monkey abuse

A man from Florida could face up to seven years of jail time after admitting to distributing videos of animal cruelty, as reported by the Department of Justice.

Francisco Javier Ravelo, 36, is charged with forming and joining various Telegram chat groups aimed at sharing and discussing violent monkey videos, according to a detailed criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE.

The document indicates that these videos showcased baby and adult monkeys being tortured and set on fire.

Ravelo shared 42 such videos, as noted in the complaint, in breach of the federal Animal Crushing law.

The acts for which Ravelo was prosecuted took place between August 2024 and February 2025, according to the details in the complaint.

"Throughout this timeframe, the defendant participated in several private conversations on Telegram with various individuals during which they swapped and discussed explicit monkey torture videos.

Within these groups, the defendant used the alias 'Tony F***ing Montana,'" details the proffer filed in the case, as obtained by PEOPLE.

The proffer further describes some of the footage, showing monkeys being burned with hot irons, having limbs crushed in vices, and, in at least one case, having a limb violently torn off.

"The defendant didn't just view these videos. He developed and managed online communities centered on this topic and shared numerous videos depicting animal torture," stated US Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida in a statement, as cited in a Department of Justice press release. "Such behavior supports an industry sustained by cruelty."

Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations — who led the investigation — stated that Ravelo will now be "held responsible for his shocking crimes to avert further harm,” according to the release containing his statement.

Ravelo's sentencing is planned for May 21 in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.