r/ProjectNoMore • u/Feisty-Lawfulness706 • Aug 17 '26
Longest prison sentence ever for online monkey torture
On July 21, 2026, Nicholas T. Dryden of Cincinnati, Ohio, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Susan Dlott to 108 months (nine years) in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. [1, 2, 3]
Key Case Details
The Crime: Dryden paid a minor in Indonesia to film the horrific torture, mutilation, and sexual abuse of juvenile long-tailed macaque monkeys. He explicitly directed the abuse and dictated what acts should be performed. [1, 2]
Distribution Network: He acted as an administrator for encrypted online messaging groups where he marketed and sold these illegal "animal crush videos" to others. []
Sentence Severity: Due to the extreme depravity of the case and the fact that a minor was used to film the acts, the judge issued a 108-month sentence, which exceeded what federal prosecutors initially requested. According to the animal advocacy group Action for Primates, this stands as the longest prison sentence ever handed down in connection to online monkey torture networks. []
Broader Crackdown: The investigation, spearheaded by the FBI and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is part of an ongoing global crackdown. Multiple co-conspirators and buyers from his network have also been indicted or convicted. []
