Man Sentenced in Monkey Torture Ring Involving Abuse and Forbidden Videos

A man from New Jersey has received a four-year prison sentence for his involvement as an intermediary in a disturbing animal cruelty operation, which produced and distributed videos depicting young monkeys being subjected to severe physical and sexual abuse.

Giancarlo Morelli was convicted of conspiring to create and circulate these horrific videos to illicit buyers. Authorities intercepted communications between Morelli and a co-conspirator, Nicholas T. Dryden, in online groups where such content was exchanged and discussed from March to April 2023. Morelli paid for explicit videos at least 20 times, offering feedback and suggestions to the creators.

The videos, varying from a few seconds to over 40 minutes, depicted animals enduring violent acts such as genital burns, cutting, sodomy with homemade objects, and more. An indictment revealed that Morelli sent payments totaling hundreds of dollars to Dryden, who then paid minors in Indonesia to carry out the abuse. Dryden was the only person charged with producing the material.

A Rhesus Macaque monkey behind metal bars, looking down with its hands holding a bar. — Morelli would send monkeys—such as this one, pictured here—to Dryden, who then paid a child in Indonesia to abuse them. *Art Event – stock.adobe.com*

The criminal activities involved “animal crushing,” a term originating from a fetish where individuals stomp on animals, but it also includes other forms of cruelty. These acts were prohibited under laws strengthened in 2010 and later reinforced in 2019, making their production and distribution federal crimes.

According to federal prosecutors, the torture ranged from burning genitals to cutting and sodomy, with videos used to feed a clandestine market. Dryden, who allegedly initiated the production, was reported to have expressed enthusiasm, stating, “This is the best video you’ve made,” and encouraging the harm.

Three rhesus macaques looking through a wire cage. — Animal cruelty, including behaviors like “animal crushing,” has been classified as a federal crime since 2019. File photo of monkeys. *Fotokon – stock.adobe.com*

U.S. authorities emphasized that anyone involved in paying for and sharing such abuse, whether directly or indirectly, will be held accountable as if they committed the torture themselves. Morelli initially pleaded guilty earlier this year, with additional indictments relating to the case following shortly after.