'Disturbing actions': Arizona man sentenced to prison for filming torture of live pigeons
Editor's note: Contents of this story may be disturbing to some readers.
A 36-year-old Arizona man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for illegally owning guns and for filming himself torturing and killing pigeons, some by burning their eyes with a torch lighter, removing their skin, and squeezing their chest until their organs burst out.
Eric Thomas Scionti, of Tempe, on Oct. 3, 2024, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person and animal crushing in two separate cases, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona.
United States District Judge John J. Tuchi on Tuesday sentenced Scionti to 47 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to a charging document in the firearms case obtained by Paste BN, prior to his arrest, an FBI agent with the Joint Terrorism Task Force began investigating Scionti, then a convicted felon, after receiving an anonymous tip in 2022. The affidavit reads Scionti was in possession of at least a dozen firearms and "was actively involved with groups associated with Boogaloo militia movement."
'Boogaloo Bois'
Experts say the violent extremist movement the Boogaloo Bois "thrive on events that spur civil disobedience and animosity towards the government," Paste BN previously reported. The movement flourished during the anti-lockdown movement at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tipster, according to the 14-page complaint, told officials the weapons "were first acquired in anticipation of taking part in violent uprisings following the 2020 election."
On Jan.18, 2023, after obtaining a search warrant, federal agents seized six firearms and 1,826 rounds of ammunition from a home where Scionti was staying.
Prosecutors said he had previously been convicted of multiple Arizona state felonies and was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. According to charging documents, some of his convictions included trespassing, narcotic possession, and unlawful discharge of a firearm.
Hundreds of disturbing images showed Scionti torture, mutilate pigeons
More than nine months later, on Sept. 9, 2023, after obtaining authorization to search Scionti’s email account, according to the release, agents seized nearly 170 videos and 89 digital photographs showing Scionti torturing and mutilating live pigeons.
According to a separate criminal complaint in that case, in early April 2022 through at least October 2022, on multiple occasions Scionti abused and killed the animals in various ways including burning their eyes with a torch lighter, removing their skin, and squeezing their chest until their organs burst out.
In other instances, the complaint continues, he stapled other pigeons to walls, burned some alive in boiling water and rubbed hot sauce in badly burned animals eyes or inserted metal rods through their eyes.
Contributing: Will Carless
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.