An Alabama woman, Stacey Storey, 49, has pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to create and distribute animal crushing videos. The court documents reveal that Storey was part of private online chat groups on an encrypted messaging platform that funded, viewed, distributed, and promoted videos depicting the torture and murder of monkeys.
Storey and her associates financed the creation of these videos by collaborators outside the United States. These foreign co-conspirators recorded the brutal acts and sent the footage to Storey and others in the U.S., who then shared them within their online groups. Between August 2021 and July 2022, Storey received numerous electronic payments from her co-conspirators for creating new animal crush videos abroad. She communicated directly with a partner in Indonesia who hired videographers to carry out these acts.
On June 21, 2022, Storey distributed a video showing a juvenile monkey being tortured using ants and sodomy with an object. She commented on the video: “Enjoy this one ladies and gents,” suggesting viewers could send donations as a bonus for "a job well done."
In June 2023, law enforcement seized Storey's electronic devices which contained over 675 videos and 11,000 images related to animal crushing.
Several other individuals involved have also pled guilty. Michael Macartney from Chesapeake was sentenced to three years and six months in prison after pleading guilty in April 2024. Jeffrey Radtke from Bloomington is awaiting sentencing in February after his guilty plea in September. Drexel Venero from Rockville pled guilty in December and will be sentenced in April.
Storey's sentencing is scheduled for June 10; she faces up to five years in prison. Sentences for federal crimes often fall below maximum penalties as determined by a judge based on guidelines.
The announcement was made by Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, alongside Kai Wah Chan from Homeland Security Investigations Washington D.C., following acceptance of the plea by Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth M. Yusi is prosecuting this case.
Further information can be found on websites related to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER using Case No. 2:24-cr-103.
