Licking County man pleads guilty to conspiracy involving monkey torture videos

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — An Ohio man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to create and distribute videos depicting extreme violence against monkeys, the Department of Justice said.

Court documents indicated that Ronald Bedra, of Etna, had conspired with others to create and distribute "animal crush" videos that depicted torture against monkeys, including limbs being severed and sexual abuse.

Conspirators had used encrypted chat apps to send money to individuals outside of the U.S. who were willing to commit the acts of torture on camera, court documents said, and Bedra had mailed a thumb drive containing more than 60 videos to another conspirator out of state.

Bedra pleaded guilty to his role in the case, a plea agreement unsealed on Monday showed.

The case was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.