CINCINNATI — Philip Colt Moss, of Iowa, has been charged with conspiracy to create and distribute videos showing the torture and mutilation of monkeys in what is called "animal crush videos."
The New York Times reported he was arrested on Thursday, Aug. 8 and charged by the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati.
His indictment was unsealed Friday, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs.
According to court documents, Moss was conspiring with two other men in March and April of 2023 to make videos of "sadistic violence" towards monkeys at various ages, including babies. They then planned to distribute these videos.
The videos reportedly contained footage of burning and cutting genitals as well as sodomy using various objects.
The two other associated men who have also been charged, Nicholas T. Dryden, of Ohio, and Giancarlo Morelli, of New Jersey, were also involved in the online groups creating and distributing the content.
Money was allegedly funneled through Dryden, who would send money to a child in Indonesia to carry out specific acts on camera.
According to the New York Times, Moss sent Dryden $1,447 dollars for the videos, and they both discussed going to Indonesia to make the videos themselves.
All three face a charge of conspiracy, which carries a maximum of five years in prison, and charges related to creation and distribution of animal crush videos, which carries a maximum of seven years.
Dryden is also charged with distribution and receipt of a visual depiction of the sexual abuse of children because a minor was paid to abuse the monkeys.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case.
