North Carolina Man Sentenced to More than Two Years in Prison for Conspiracy Related to Videos Depicting Monkey Torture and Mutilation

A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 28 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release in connection with his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

Robert Craig, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty on June 25, 2025, to conspiring to create and distribute so-called "animal crush videos."

According to court documents, Craig used encrypted chat applications to share and discuss obscene videos of monkeys being tortured and sexually abused. According to a statement of facts signed by Craig, the videos in question included numerous depictions of extreme violence and torture against monkeys that had been specifically requested by the defendant and his co-conspirators.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II for the Southern District of Ohio, Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie of the FBI Cincinnati Field Office, and Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement, made the announcement.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Mark Romley and Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman of ENRD's Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Pakiz for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case.