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- calendar_today October 14, 2026
Illinois Woman Sentenced in Federal Animal Cruelty Case
A woman from Catlin, Illinois, has been sentenced to 31 months in federal prison for her involvement in commissioning and distributing videos depicting the torture and sexual abuse of baby monkeys, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
Details of the Investigation and Charges
Amanda Fourez was sentenced by a U.S. District Judge to both the prison term and a subsequent three years of supervised release. Fourez pleaded guilty in April to charges related to distributing animal crush videos and conspiring with others to create and share such content. The federal case was handled by prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
Participation in Online Animal Abuse Communities
According to federal prosecutors, Fourez participated in online groups that focused on the creation and distribution of videos showing extreme animal cruelty, specifically targeting monkeys. The court documents revealed that Fourez and others would pool funds to commission the production of these torture videos, subsequently sharing them through online chat groups and messaging platforms.
These platforms were described as being "dedicated to the creation, distribution, and discussion of sexual and violent videos depicting monkeys being tortured, including baby and adult monkeys being burned and their genitals mutilated."
Extent of the Crimes and Financial Involvement
Prosecutors detailed Fourez's financial involvement, stating that she paid thousands of dollars for custom animal crush videos. She is reported to have distributed the videos online on at least 10 occasions. The videos commissioned and distributed depicted graphic acts of violence, including burning and genital mutilation of monkeys.
Statements from Officials on Animal Cruelty Prosecution
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division commented, "We stand ready to prosecute this depraved conduct." U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania added, "Amanda Fourez commissioned mutilation of helpless animals on video, and then disseminated those gruesome videos to an online community of people who were seeking content that portrayed the infliction of severe pain and suffering." Rivetti emphasized the Justice Department's ongoing commitment to investigating and prosecuting serious federal crimes involving animal cruelty.
Role of Federal Agencies in Investigation
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, both agencies working to combat federal crimes involving online animal abuse. The outcome of the case underscores continued efforts by law enforcement and federal prosecutors to address the issue of animal abuse videos and protect wildlife from severe cruelty.
Source: wgntv.com.
