A Carver, Minnesota man faces serious federal charges for allegedly producing and distributing animal crushing videos. Bryan Wesley Edison, 32, is indicted with sixteen counts of animal cruelty, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. According to a press release from Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson, the charges are based on Edison's creation of hundreds of videos showcasing the torture and killing of animals, including birds, hamsters, rabbits, and dogs, among others.
Edison, who made his initial court appearance today, had been operating these grotesque displays on his pay-per-view YouTube channels since 2022. Drawing in viewers with grim video titles and descriptions, Edison monetized the suffering of animals with varying subscription levels, the highest of which promised "custom" videos depicting graphic torture, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Acting in a violation of policies, YouTube has since removed Edison's channels, "Prince’s Pet Planet" and "Prince’s Chomp Squad," for multiple and severe breaches.
"Animal crushing is not only sickening, it is a federal crime," Acting U.S. Attorney Thompson stated. Reflecting on the grave nature of these offenses, Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis weighed in, saying, "The exercise of violence over the defenseless is never acceptable." Edison's horrifying acts, discovered following an FBI investigation, have raised sharp concerns about the link between animal cruelty and broader societal dangers.
The 2019 Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT Act), signed by former President Trump, made it illegal to engage in animal crushing. It defines the term to include the infliction of serious bodily injury to living creatures through various means, establishing the federal purview. The Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Evans is currently prosecuting the case against Edison, with the defendant maintaining the presumption of innocence until proven guilty within the judicial system.
Some of Edison's narrations within these videos included distressing comments, reminiscent of a chilling invitation to violence, such as "Shredder, do your worst," per the Justice Department's release. This indictment serves as a stern reminder of the legal consequences for those who indulge in and propagate acts of animal cruelty.
