March 5, 2026, 9:28 a.m. ET
Warning: This article contains graphic and disturbing details about animal abuse.
A Florida man pleaded guilty to sadistic videos of monkeys being tortured for viewers’ sexual fetishes.
Francisco Javier Ravelo, 36, of Coral Gables, admitted in Miami federal court March 3, he distributed videos of someone mutilating private parts of primates for others’ sexual gratification. It happened at least 42 times between September 2024 and February 2025, according to court records.
One video “depicts various acts of torture being performed on a monkey, including .zip tying, pinching and applying a hot soldering iron” according to court documents.
Ravelo is on free on $100,000 bond until his May 21 sentencing where he faces up to seven years in prison. He’s prohibited from accessing social media.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida called the case “deeply disturbing.”
“Deliberate cruelty to animals is one of the clearest red flags. It reflects a willingness to dominate, torture and inflict suffering without remorse,” Quiñones said. “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.”
How a Florida man was caught sharing videos of tortured monkeys for sexual pleasure
Ravelo admitted in court documents he created and administered online chat groups on the social media platform Telegram with the purpose of distributing and discussing obscene videos of monkeys being tortured.
Known by the screen name “Tony F**king Montana,” Ravelo was charged in October 2025. The animals were “purposely crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled, or otherwise subjected to serious bodily injury,” according to court documents.
“Mr. Ravelo decided it was in his best interest to change his plea from not guilty to guilty,” his attorney Michael Mirer said in court.
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
