Hundreds of people around the world have been captivated by the sick world of monkey torture, watching videos of helpless animals being Sadistically beaten, attacked with drills and even doused with acid.
Last year, the sordid global network of animal abusers was exposed after a year-long investigation by the BBC found that people online were commissioning the depraved videos.
The ‘monkey-hating community’, as its members know it, included a range of people, from a grandmother living in Alabama, USA, to a 35-year-old bird-loving British woman living in the Midlands with His parents.
Those from the UK and US would “commission” the creation of the videos, asking people living in countries like Thailand or Indonesia, where monkeys are native, to film the depraved acts.
For years, their vile habits have gone unpunished, but now those caught participating in the disturbing underground network could face criminal charges and even jail terms.
Some have warned their accomplices to be careful because the authorities are after them.
In a forum where one user asks, “Can anyone send me gory or monkey torture videos?”, another advises, “I just want to warn you about this.” If they offer you videos and ask you to pay money, DON’T DO IT.
“It’s not illegal to see them but paying money for them can get you in serious trouble,” the user added in a post published days ago.
Michael McCartney, 50, was charged in Virginia with conspiracy to create and distribute images of animal crushing.
A year-long investigation by the BBC found that hundreds of people had been paying Indonesians to torture and kill baby long-tailed macaques on video.
Horrifying video shows baby monkeys dressed in human clothing while trapped in cages
The warning comes as two British women were accused of publishing an obscene article and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
Holly LeGresley, 37, from Kidderminster, and Adriana Orme, 55, from Upton-upon Severn, were just two of hundreds who paid Indonesians to torture and kill baby long-tailed macaques on video.
Both women were prominent members of the online torture group. LeGresley was called ‘The Immolator’ online and he was said to be a moderator for one of the most prolific groups.
The charges brought by West Mercia Police related to causing, consuming and facilitating the torture of monkeys.
Both women have been released on bail and will appear at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on May 7.
It comes after Michael McCartney, 50, was charged in Virginia with conspiracy to create and distribute images of animal crushing.
McCartney, nicknamed the ‘King of Torture’, was one of three key dealers identified in the investigation into cruel monkey torture gangs.
He had managed multiple group chats for monkey torture enthusiasts around the world using the encrypted messaging app Telegram.
Monkey haters sent him requests, asking for videos of monkeys being tortured and even set on fire.
The video tips were then sent along with payments to people in Indonesia who would carry out the abuse that sometimes ended with the killing of baby long-tailed monkeys.
M. Ajis Rasjana (pictured) was sentenced to eight months in prison in Indonesia, the maximum available for torturing animals.
The year-long investigation found that videos were being commissioned of baby monkeys being sadistically beaten, attacked with drills and even doused with acid.
The recent charges have left abusers warning their accomplices to be careful because authorities are after them.
McCartney would later distribute the horrendous images on his social network.
The ringleader resides nearly 10,000 miles from the site of the monkey’s torture and lives in his home allegedly decorated with Nazi symbols and Confederate flags.
Toothless after years of heroin addiction, McCartney, who calls himself Mike, spent two decades with one of the most dangerous motorcycle gangs in the United States before going to prison.
It was during the pandemic that he first came across a monkey torture video and was soon invited to the Telegram group called Ape’s Cage, created by its ringleader ‘Mr Ape’.
When addressed by the BBCApe, whose identity has not been revealed, spoke of his own loneliness that led him to create the forum.
He said it was “attractive” to see “something else suffer” and a way to forget his own pain.
The lurid forum was filled with polls asking members what form of torture they wanted to see next, whether it was a hammer or a screwdriver used to beat monkeys.
The ex-con, however, saw it as an opportunity to make monkeys. After gaining the trust of the shady community, he was trusted to trade and sell the sick images to other members. He once boasted: “I’m building an empire.”
Tortured monkey lies in dirty cage while dressed in human clothing for online content (taken from YouTube)
Following the investigation into the monkey torture ring, around 20 people were investigated around the world
Possessing animal torture videos in the US is not illegal, but distributing them is and can mean someone being sent to prison for up to seven years.
Following the station’s investigation, Homeland Security agents arrived at McCartney’s house. They confiscated his devices and questioned him, but then released him.
Last year he told BBC Eye’s investigations team: “I was the man. Do you want to see monkeys in bad condition?” I could take it to you.
Trying to gain sympathy, McCartney said he had invited animal rights activists to the group to expose him.
‘I tried to do the right thing but I got benefits. It was my mistake,’ he stated.
McCartney has since been accused by prosecutors of raising funds from his chat groups and distributing videos depicting the “sadistic torture, murder and sexually mutilation of animals,” specifically young and adult monkeys.
He has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges and faces up to five years in prison.
While McCartney was undoubtedly a key figure in the underground network, he had great reach.
Horrific videos shared online show monkeys being burned, put in a blender and even killed.
Among them was Stacey Storey, a 46-year-old grandmother who worked at a gas station and lived with her son in a trailer in rural Alabama. But her username was “Sadist.”
According to the BBC investigation, she was one of the most prolific users of Ape’s Cage, charging $200 (£150) for torture videos that included everything from force-feeding to putting monkeys in jars of acid.
His chance to get money came after he conceived the idea, together with Mr Ape, to commission a video showing a monkey in a blender.
Over time, other innocent people began stumbling upon the questionable videos before being invited to join the group.
It was infiltrated by innocent bystanders and some animal rights activists who raised the alarm about the senseless animal cruelty that was occurring. Among them were activist Nina Jackel and Dave Gooptar in Trinidad.
Ape, who ran the empire he created from his mother’s home in Florida, approached the pair to ask them to stop monkey haters around the world and asked them to help “stop monkey torture.” .
It was later published in April 2022 and became extremely popular among community members with hundreds of people flocking to the Telegram group.
In addition to McCartney, two others were also charged in the United States. This includes former US Air Force officer David Christopher Noble, 48, and Nicole Devilbliss, 35. Both face up to five years in prison.
According to the BBC, more charges are expected soon against other people who were key in the torture ring. Following their investigation, 20 people around the world were investigated.
A man in Indonesia called M Ajis Rasjana, who filmed some of the monkey torture videos, was sentenced to eight months in prison following the investigation.