Alabama woman helped make ‘crushing’ videos of monkeys being tortured and killed

Stacey Storey, 49, of Alabama, pled guilty in a Virginia federal court on Thursday to conspiracy to create and distribute animal crushing videos.

Storey and her co-conspirators administered and were members of private online chat groups on an encrypted messaging platform to fund, view, distribute, and promote videos depicting the torture, murder, and sexually sadistic mutilation of juvenile and adult monkeys, according to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Between at least Aug. 22, 2021, and July 7, 2022, Storey received hundreds of electronic payments from co-conspirators to fund, among other things, the creation of new animal crush videos by videographers outside the United States,” the release reads.

“On or about June 21, 2022, Storey distributed a video to the online chat groups depicting the torture of a juvenile monkey using a jar of ants and sodomy with an object, causing the monkey’s death.”

“Storey stated, ‘Enjoy this one ladies and gents,’ and suggested, ‘If you guys would like to send in a small donation for this guy a little bonus for a job well done that we’ve always wanted to see would be absolutely amazing.’”

In June 2023, law enforcement seized Storey’s electronic devices, according to the release.

Storey’s electronic media and accounts contained over 675 videos and 11,000 images depicting animal crushing.

Storey is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10 and faces up to five years in prison, the release says.

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties, it continues. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Co-conspirator Michael Macartney, 51, of Chesapeake, pled guilty on April 30, 2024. Macartney was sentenced on Oct. 1, 2024, to three years and six months in prison.

Co-conspirator Jeffrey Radtke, 61, of Bloomington, Minnesota, pled guilty on Sept. 24, 2024. Radtke is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13 and faces up to five years in prison.

Co-conspirator Drexel Venero, 30, of Rockville, Maryland, pled guilty on December 12, 2024. Venero is schedule to be sentenced on April 22, 2025.