A woman with addresses in Elmore County pled guilty in Virginia federal court on Thursday to creating and distributing animal crushing videos.
The U.S. Department of Justice said in a release Stacey Storey, 49, joined co-conspirators from across the country and were members of private online chat groups on an encrypted messaging platform to fund, view, distribute, and promote videos depicting the torture, murder and sexually sadistic mutilation of juvenile and adult monkeys.
“Between at least Aug. 22, 2021, and July 7, 2022, Storey received hundreds of electronic payments from co-conspirators to fund, among other things, the creation of new animal crush videos by videographers outside the United States,” a DOJ release states.
The DOJ said about June 21, 2022, Storey distributed a video to the online chat groups depicting the torture of a juvenile monkey using a jar of ants and sodomy with an object, causing the monkey’s death.
“Storey stated, ‘Enjoy this one ladies and gents,’ and suggested, ‘If you guys would like to send in a small donation for this guy a little bonus for a job well done that we’ve always wanted to see would be absolutely amazing,’” the DOJ release said.
According to State of Alabama court records, Storey was facing legal issues in Elmore County about the same time. The records state she had addresses on Titus Road and Firetower Road in Elmore County and an address in Clanton. At the time, she was facing charges of second-degree theft from a Holtville Road address while living on Firetower Road. Between Dec. 1, 2020, and July 12, 2021, Storey “exerted unauthorized control over a victim’s refrigerator, washing machine and dryer…. (Storey) also damaged windows, the kitchen floor and walls.”
A trial date was set and Storey did not appear for her court date. She ultimately pled guilty in October 2023 and was given a suspended sentence of 24 months. At the time she was living in Titus.
According to a DOJ release, in June 2023 law enforcement seized Storey’s electronic devices,. Her electronic media and accounts contained over 675 videos and 11,000 images depicting animal crushing.
Storey is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10 and faces up to five years in prison, the release says.
According to state court records, Storey lived on Fitzpatrick Road and Firetower Road during the time. In December 2024 Storey filed paperwork with the courts that her address was in Clanton.
The DOJ said four others were also involved and had previously pleaded guilty to their part in the crimes.
Co-conspirator Michael Macartney, 51, of Chesapeake, Virginia, pled guilty on April 30, 2024. Macartney was sentenced on Oct. 1, 2024, to three years and six months in prison.
Co-conspirator Jeffrey Radtke, 61, of Bloomington, Minnesota, pled guilty on Sept. 24, 2024. Radtke is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13 and faces up to five years in prison.
Co-conspirator Drexel Venero, 30, of Rockville, Maryland, pled guilty on December 12, 2024. Venero is scheduled to be sentenced on April 22, 2025.
There are no mugshots available in the federal system.
