NORFOLK, Va. — An Alabama woman has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in a disturbing international animal cruelty case, where she and others funded, distributed, and promoted videos depicting the torture and mutilation of monkeys.
According to court documents, Stacey Storey, 49, was part of an online network that used encrypted messaging platforms to organize and pay for the creation of extreme animal torture videos. The videos were produced by individuals outside the U.S., who carried out brutal acts at the direction of Storey and her co-conspirators.
Between August 2021 and July 2022, Storey received hundreds of payments from other members of the online group to commission new videos. She and her co-conspirators communicated with an individual in Indonesia who hired videographers to carry out the acts. Storey and others directly instructed how the animals should be tortured and killed.
In one instance, Storey shared a video in June 2022 depicting the torture of a juvenile monkey, which ultimately died. She encouraged others in the group to contribute a “bonus” payment for what she described as a “job well done.”
Law enforcement seized Storey’s electronic devices in June 2023, uncovering over 675 videos and 11,000 images of animal torture.
Other Defendants and Sentencing
Several of Storey’s co-conspirators have also pleaded guilty:
- Michael Macartney, 51, of Chesapeake, VA – Sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison.
- Jeffrey Radtke, 61, of Bloomington, MN – Awaiting sentencing on Feb. 13, 2025, faces up to 5 years in prison.
- Drexel Venero, 30, of Rockville, MD – Scheduled for sentencing on April 22, 2025.
Storey will be sentenced on June 10, 2025, and faces a maximum of 5 years in prison, though federal sentences are often less than the maximum.
This case sheds light on the dark underbelly of online animal cruelty networks, and authorities are continuing to investigate those involved.