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.
Bro… I can’t afford to eat meat… do you think I can afford your weird alternatives? Stop trying to tell me how to eat.
No! You know what, it’s a new day… I’ve been bullied into being stressed out by people like you for far too long this is a new type of social media and I’m going to block you and I’m going to enjoy it and then you’ll never have to exist to me ever again that’s great goodbye
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