Federal law enforcement announced a $5,000 reward and a new FBI tip line Tuesday, Aug. 11, for information leading to the successful prosecution of criminals who violate the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, a federal law that carries penalties of up to seven years in prison.
This statute, which President Donald Trump signed into law in November 2019, criminalizes engaging in animal abuse in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce and making “animal crushing” videos that depict obscene animal abuse.
Those who have evidence against anyone suspected of breaking this law are encouraged to email the FBI at LA-AnimalCrimesTipline@ic.fbi.gov.
Successful tips include specific evidence: photographs, videos, dates, times, locations and a description of who is committing these crimes.
This dedicated email account will be reviewed by the Animal Abuse Task Force, which was created last year, and is led by federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section working in partnership with the FBI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the LA County District Attorney’s Office, the LA Police Department, LA City Animal Control and other state and local law enforcement officers.