Michael Macartney, 50, confessed to the BBC his role in an extreme monkey torture network.

A ringleader in a global monkey torture network exposed by the BBC has been charged by US federal prosecutors.

Michael Macartney, 50, who went by the alias “Torture King”, was charged in Virginia with conspiracy to create and distribute animal-crushing videos.

Mr Macartney was one of three key distributors identified by the BBC Eye team during a year-long investigation into sadistic monkey torture groups.

Two women have also been charged in the UK following the investigation.

Warning: This article contains disturbing content

Mr Macartney, a former motorcycle gang member who previously spent time in prison, ran several chat groups for monkey torture enthusiasts from around the world on the encrypted messaging app Telegram.

  • BonesOfTheMoon@lemmy.world
    1·
    7 months ago

    Death penalty would be appropriate here. I’m not a believer in general but what else can you do with this human trash?

  • skozzii@lemmy.ca
    1·
    7 months ago

    This is truly sadistic behaviour. Considering how close they are to humans as well…

  • Zink@programming.dev
    1·
    7 months ago

    Wow, I’m shocked that somebody doing such horrible things would take the time to support “states’ rights” as well!

    …well, not that shocked.

  • LiveLM@lemmy.zipEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    You see, sometimes you see some fucked up shit in a movie and you think “oh ok, this is just for the sake of story, there’s no way this has ever happened in real life”
    Then you read an article like this.

    The groups were used to share ideas for custom-made torture videos, such as setting live monkeys on fire, injuring them with tools and even putting one in a blender.

    How… How do you even come back from this? Is there any hope these people can get rehabilitated? I’m struggling to believe the answer is anything other than “NO.”

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
      01·
      7 months ago

      How… How do you even come back from this?

      The sort of shit a 12 year old would come up with in a video game in an attempt to shock one’s friends made manifest IRL by grown ass adults.

  • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    Mr Macartney has cooperated with investigators from the Department of Homeland Security and agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges. He will formally make a plea later this month and is facing up to five years in prison.

    WHAT THE FUCK. 5 YEARS?!

    FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING, TORTURING, AND MUTILATING ANIMALS FOR PROFIT?!

    And of course hes a MAGAt. Fucking soulless, worthless cumstains on the fabric of society.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
      01·
      7 months ago

      Distributing 500 grams of cocaine? 5 year prison sentence.

      Distributing 5 grams of cocaine cut with baking soda? 5 year prison sentence.

      Sexually abusing, mutilating, and slaughtering animals in the most sadistic methods imaginable? 5 year prison sentence.

      American criminal justice system is extremely normal.