Iowa Man Indicted for Creating and Distributing Animal Crush Videos

An indictment has been unsealed today, charging an Iowa man with his involvement in creating and distributing videos that depict extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys.

Philip Colt Moss from Iowa faces charges of conspiracy to create and distribute so-called “animal crush videos.” He is also charged with distributing these videos. According to court documents, Moss allegedly conspired with Nicholas Dryden and Giancarlo Morelli in March and April 2023 to produce and share videos showing acts of sadistic violence against monkeys.

The videos claimed to have been created as part of this conspiracy included graphic depictions of monkeys having their genitals burned, cut with scissors, sodomized with a wooden skewer, and sodomized with a spoon.

If convicted, Moss could face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge. He also faces a maximum of seven years for the charges related to the creation and distribution of these animal crush videos. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the FBI.

Senior Trial Attorney Adam Cullman from the Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Oakley from the Southern District of Ohio are responsible for prosecuting the case.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.