Francisco Javier Ravelo, a 36-year-old resident of Coral Gables, pleaded guilty to distributing videos depicting the torture of monkeys. The case was prosecuted under the federal Animal Crushing statute, following charges brought against Ravelo in October 2025.
Court documents revealed that Ravelo not only created some of the content but also managed online chat groups dedicated to sharing and discussing violent and sexual videos involving monkeys. These videos included acts of mutilation and burning, targeting both baby and adult monkeys. Authorities stated that Ravelo personally distributed more than 40 such videos.
“In his first term, President Donald J. Trump signed the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act into law to end animal crushing,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “If you are involved in this sadistic activity, we will prosecute you.”
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida commented on the seriousness of the case: “This case is deeply disturbing. As a former state court trial judge who presided over domestic violence cases, I was trained to recognize lethality factors, warning signs that violence is escalating. Deliberate cruelty to animals is one of the clearest red flags. It reflects a willingness to dominate, torture, and inflict suffering without remorse. The defendant didn’t merely view this material. He created and administered online groups devoted to it and distributed dozens of obscene animal torture videos. That conduct fuels a market built on brutality. Animal crushing is a serious federal crime. In the Southern District of Florida, we will enforce that law firmly and without hesitation.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) acknowledged his team’s efforts: “Our team worked diligently to ensure Ravelo was held accountable for his egregious crimes and to prevent further harm,” he said. “We are grateful for the collaboration that brought this case to resolution and Ravelo to justice.”
The investigation was led by HSI, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke E. Latta for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Emily R. Stone from ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section.
Additional information about related court documents can be found at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under Case No. 25-cr-20477.
