Illinois Woman Pleads Guilty in Disturbing Animal Crush Video Case
A woman from Illinois has admitted to funding the production of graphic “animal crush videos.” These videos, often depicting extreme cruelty towards both adult and baby monkeys, were made by members of a twisted online group.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency announced on Monday that Amanda Lee Forez, a U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty earlier this month to conspiracy charges related to the creation and distribution of these videos.
Reports indicate that the content financed by Forez included horrific scenes where monkeys were subjected to burning and mutilation. The Department of Justice commented that “Forez paid significant sums to commission custom sexual torture videos, and controlled their archiving and distribution online.”
ICE’s investigation revealed that Forez was involved in various online chat groups focused on creating and sharing animal abuse videos and other violent content.
In a related case, another participant in these groups, Joseph Garrett Buckland from Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, recently pleaded guilty to similar conspiracy charges.
The Department of Justice further noted that Buckland had been indicted for breaching federal animal slaughter regulations.
In 2010, Congress enacted a law prohibiting videos demonstrating animal cruelty for sexual gratification, enhancing it in 2019 to ban such acts outright.
The investigation into Forez was conducted by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations alongside the FBI. ICE enforces over 400 federal laws, including those against cybercrime.
Forez faces a potential maximum sentence of five years for the conspiracy charge and up to seven years and a hefty fine for distribution. Ultimately, a judge will determine her sentence based on various factors and guidelines.
ICE Director Todd M. Lyons remarked, “Forez admits her involvement in making and sharing these appalling videos online. It’s shocking to think anyone would pay to produce such barbaric content. We remain committed to eradicating these sadistic online groups.”
