U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber | U.S. Department of Justice
A Minnesota man has admitted to conspiring to create and distribute videos depicting animal torture. Jeffrey Radtke, 61, of Bloomington, Minnesota, pled guilty in a federal court yesterday.
Court documents reveal that between June 11, 2021, and July 8, 2022, Radtke received over 20 electronic payments ranging from $1 to $300 from his coconspirators. These funds were used to pay videographers outside the United States, including in Indonesia, to produce videos showing the torture and deaths of juvenile macaque monkeys.
Radtke communicated directly with Coconspirator 11 (CC11) in Indonesia. He and others regularly directed CC11 on how to carry out the animal torture for these videos. From June 7, 2021, to August 5, 2022, Radtke sent over 40 payments ranging from $25 to $295 to CC11 for new videos.
On April 24, 2023, law enforcement seized Radtke’s electronic devices. His computer contained over 2,600 videos and 2,700 images of animal crushing.
Radtke is scheduled for sentencing on February 13, 2025. He faces up to five years in prison. However, actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced the plea acceptance by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi is prosecuting the case.
Further information can be found on the websites of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or through PACER by searching Case No. 2:24-cr-88.
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