Crime & Public Safety
Man sentenced in Henrico for torture and online donation fraud involving cats
A Chesterfield man was sentenced in Henrico to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts related to the torture and death of cats and to computer fraud, prosecutors said. Henrico police arrested Rodney Travis Jr. earlier this year; he faced six felony animal cruelty counts, one misdemeanor animal cruelty charge and three counts of felony computer fraud to obtain money by false pretenses. Prosecutors said the sentence nearly doubles the previous Virginia record for an animal cruelty case.
Prosecutors presented investigators’ findings that Travis posted videos between Jan. 21 and Feb. 13 on social media depicting cats in distress, and that donation links accompanied the posts. Investigators allege Travis rented hotel rooms in Henrico on three occasions to record the videos. Officers executed a search warrant at his Chesterfield home on Feb. 13; six cats were taken to an emergency veterinary center and one died en route, according to the complaint.
Allegations in charging documents include claims that Travis tortured 26 cats in Virginia, with prosecutors confirming two deaths and stating 18 others are presumed dead. Prosecutors also allege most of the cats were drugged before being beaten and that Travis obtained roughly $400,000 through fraudulent online donations. In court he pleaded guilty to all charges and was ordered to pay about $25,000 in fines.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Dylan McCauley described the video evidence at sentencing. Rescue groups told investigators Travis used aliases and disguises to adopt animals from local rescues. Travis is also scheduled for additional sentencing on related charges in Chesterfield in December.
All individuals accused of a crime are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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All individuals mentioned in criminal allegations are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.