Animal Enterprise Terrorism

Peter Daniel Young pleaded guilty to charges that he freed thousands of minks across the Midwest of the United States.^[1] As part of the plea deal, Mr. Young admitted his role in the raids of fur farms and pleaded guilty to two counts of animal enterprise terrorism.^[2]

According to investigators, in 1997 Mr. Young and an accomplice trespassed on farms, cut fences, and released caged minks in Wisconsin, South Dakota and Iowa.^[3] It is believed that Mr. Young is a member of the Animal Liberation Front.^[4]

The two men were indicted on four extortion counts and two animal enterprise terrorism counts in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1998.^[5] Facing 82 years in prison if they were convicted on all counts, they both disappeared.^[6] Mr. Young’s accomplice was captured in Belgium the following year and he struck a deal.^[7] Mr. Young was eventually located in March of this year, when he was arrested for shoplifting in San Jose, California.^[8] It is expected that he will spend two years in prison.^[9]

Animal Enterprise Terrorism
Animal enterprise terrorism is criminalized by 18 U.S.C. § 43. Under this statute, it is illegal for a person to travel in interstate commerce for the purpose of causing physical disruption to the operations of an animal enterprise,^[10] and intentionally damage or cause the loss of property (including animals) used by the enterprise.^[11]

An animal enterprise, as used in this case, is defined as a commercial enterprise that uses animals for fiber production.^[12]

There are five categories of punishment for violating section 43:

• if the defendant causes less than $10,000 worth of economic damage, he will be fined, imprisoned for up to six months, or both.^[13]
• if the defendant causes more than $10,000 worth of economic damage, he will be fined, imprisoned for up to three years, or both.^[14]
• if the defendant causes serious bodily injury to another person, he will be fined, imprisoned for up to twenty years, or both.^[15]
• if the defendant causes death to another person, he will be fined and imprisoned for life or for any term of years.^[16]
• restitution may also be ordered.^[17]

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[1] Animal Rights Activist Pleads Guilty in U.S. Mink Release, Star Tribune, Sept. 3, 2005, available here.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] Id.
[7] Id.
[8] Id.
[9] Id.
[10] 18 U.S.C. § 43(a)(1).
[11] Id. § 43(a)(2).
[12] Id. § 43(d)(1)(A).
[13] Id. § 43(b)(1).
[14] Id. § 43(b)(2).
[15] Id. § 43(b)(3).
[16] Id. § 43(b)(4).
[17] Id. § 43(c).