A Coral Gables man pleaded guilty to distributing videos depicting the sexual torture of baby monkeys in violation of the federal Animal Crushing statute.
Francisco Javier Ravelo, 36, was charged in October 2025. Court documents show he created and administered online chat groups dedicated to the distribution and discussion of sexual and violent videos depicting monkeys being mutilated and burned, including baby and adult monkeys. He personally distributed more than 40 of these obscene crush videos.
Ravelo’s sentencing will be determined during a future court appearance.
“In his first term, President Donald J. Trump signed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act into law to end animal crushing,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “If you are involved in this sadistic activity, we will prosecute you.”
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida called the case deeply disturbing and linked it to warning signs of escalating violence.
“This case is deeply disturbing,” Quiñones said. “As a former state court trial judge who presided over domestic violence cases, I was trained to recognize lethality factors, warning signs that violence is escalating. Deliberate cruelty to animals is one of the clearest red flags. It reflects a willingness to dominate, torture, and inflict suffering without remorse.
“The defendant didn’t merely view this material. He created and administered online groups devoted to it and distributed dozens of obscene animal torture videos. That conduct fuels a market built on brutality. Animal crushing is a serious federal crime. In the Southern District of Florida, we will enforce that law firmly and without hesitation,” Quinones continued.
“Our team worked diligently to ensure Ravelo was held accountable for his egregious crimes and to prevent further harm,” said acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations. “We are grateful for the collaboration that brought this case to resolution and Ravelo to justice.”
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke E. Latta for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone of the Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.
In January, a Massachusetts man, Garrett Fitzgerald, was sentenced to 30 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and 100 hours of community service for his part in commissioning and distributing animal crush videos, The Dallas Express reported. His co-conspirators, Ronald Bedra and Robert Berndt, were sentenced to 54 months and 38 months, respectively.
Federal penalties for animal crushing can include up to seven years in prison and significant fines.