A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation in Florida uncovered a large-scale illegal animal cruelty operation involving the torture of monkeys, leading to a guilty plea from a U.S. citizen, authorities said.

Francisco Javier Ravelo, 36, pleaded guilty on March 2 to distributing videos depicting the torture of monkeys. He was originally charged in October 2025 following a federal investigation into online activity tied to animal abuse.

According to the Department of Justice, Ravelo created and managed online chat groups dedicated to sharing and discussing violent and sexualized videos involving monkeys, including footage of animals being mutilated and burned. Investigators said he personally distributed more than 40 such videos.

Federal law defines “animal crushing” as acts in which living animals are intentionally subjected to extreme harm, including being crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, or otherwise seriously injured. The law, signed by former President Donald Trump, makes such conduct a federal crime.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson said authorities are committed to prosecuting individuals involved in these acts. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida described Ravelo’s actions as a “clear red flag” of deliberate cruelty, noting that his role in creating and managing the distribution network helped fuel demand for the material.

The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations offices in New Orleans and Pensacola, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Ravelo now faces up to seven years in federal prison.