Edison Indicted: Carver Man Tormented Animals for Profit

MINNEAPOLIS – Bryan Wesley Edison, age 32, of Carver, Minnesota, is facing sixteen federal counts of Animal Crushing, following an indictment announced today by Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. The charges stem from a horrifying scheme where Edison allegedly created and disseminated hundreds of videos depicting the brutal torture and killing of animals, selling access to the depravity through pay-per-view YouTube channels.

The indictment details a calculated operation fueled by sadism. Edison allegedly didn’t just inflict pain; he monetized it. Between 2022 and the takedown of his channels, Edison uploaded nearly 350 videos showing live animals – birds, hamsters, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, lizards, reptiles, dogs, and snapping turtles – subjected to gruesome fates. He’d stage these acts, sometimes dressing the animals or creating elaborate “scenarios” before unleashing the torture.

The alleged cruelty was comprehensive. According to the indictment, Edison filmed animals being impaled, crushed, drowned, suffocated, and even dismembered *alive* by larger predators. He then marketed these videos through tiered subscription levels – $0.99, $9.99, $44.99, and a staggering $99.99 per month – with the most graphic content reserved for the highest-paying “members,” who could even commission “custom” torture videos. Edison reportedly used logos and merchandise to further brand his horrific enterprise.

The promotional material for Edison’s channels, including “Prince’s Pet Planet” and “Prince’s Chomp Squad,” was particularly disturbing. He allegedly used “clickbait” titles and descriptions designed to lure viewers with promises of extreme violence: “slow death,” “shred,” “cracks head open,” “screaming,” “tear apart,” “kills mouse brutally,” and the chilling “THAT REALLY HURTS.” During the videos, Edison allegedly offered a running commentary of the animals’ suffering, uttering phrases like, “Shredder, do your worst,” and describing the animals’ distress with callous detachment.

“Animal crushing is not only sickening, it is a federal crime,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Thompson. “When someone takes pleasure in the torture of defenseless animals, it signals a deeper danger to our community. Especially in these troubled times, we will not allow these warning signs to go unchecked.” The case highlights the expanded “Crush Video Statute” – the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT Act) – signed into law by President Trump in 2019, which explicitly criminalizes these acts of cruelty.

The FBI Minneapolis Field Office led the investigation, with Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. emphasizing the severity of the crime: “Animal crushing is an appalling abuse of power over vulnerable creatures…The FBI stands with our law enforcement partners to rigorously enforce the laws that prevent and punish such heinous acts of cruelty.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Evans is prosecuting the case. Edison made his initial appearance in federal court today. It’s crucial to remember that an indictment is an allegation, and Edison is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.