Jacksonville Woman Sentenced To Over 4 Years In Federal Prison For Conspiracy To Create And Distribute Animal Crush Videos

Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger today sentenced Nicole Danielle Devilbiss (35, Jacksonville) to four years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to create and distribute animal crush videos. Devilbiss entered a guilty plea on February 13, 2024. She has been in custody since her arrest on October 31, 2023.

According to court documents, in September 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information regarding an individual residing in Jacksonville who was identified as an administrator of a messaging application group chat that was dedicated to the abuse, torture, and death of various-aged monkeys. The HSI investigation revealed that numerous people involved in the group exchanged hundreds, if not thousands, of messages about the abuse and torture of monkeys, as well as videos depicting the abuse and torture of monkeys. The purpose of the group was to fund, view, distribute, and promote animal crush videos that depicted, among other things, the torture, murder, and sexually sadistic mutilation of animals, specifically baby and adult monkeys. The co-conspirators agreed to create animal crush videos using videographers and animals in other countries, to include Indonesia, which would then be sent to the United States. The name of the group changed multiple times to innocuous names that were inconsistent with the goals and interests of the group, which appeared to be to avoid detection by law enforcement. This investigation led to the identification of Devilbiss as a member of that group. Law enforcement obtained some of those messages and videos that were exchanged involving Devilbiss, which detailed her interest in the abuse and torture of monkeys.

Devilbiss and her co-conspirators collectively funded the creation of animal crush videos using online payment applications. Co-conspirators outside the United States received this funding and used it create animal crush videos. 

During the execution of a search warrant at Devilbiss’s residence, numerous electronic devices were seized. Law enforcement found numerous videos depicting the torture of monkeys on Devilbiss’s devices. Law enforcement also located a journal that detailed Devilbiss’s interest in obtaining a monkey locally to abuse to create additional content.

“This investigation uncovered an unsettling underworld dedicated to the torment, torture, and exploitation of innocent animals,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Through our relentless pursuit of justice, alongside our Sheriffs with Clay County, Jacksonville, and St. Johns County, we have exposed a network of depraved people inflicting unspeakable cruelty on monkeys, who record their suffering and share it for profit and perverse pleasure.”    

This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Washington and Elisibeth Adams.