U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested a British illegal alien accused of repeatedly torturing dogs at a Las Vegas animal shelter where he worked, the Department of Homeland Security announced Monday.

John Young Cotter Johnstone, 38, an illegal alien from the United Kingdom, was taken into ICE custody after local authorities honored an immigration detainer.

Illegal alien DOG ABUSER ARRESTED by @ICEgov.

This criminal illegal alien, John Young Cotter Johnstone, faces four felony charges of willfully torturing, maiming, or mutilating animals.

Thanks to the cooperation of Clark County officials, this freak is in ICE custody so he can… pic.twitter.com/5HzGlrZNl3

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 4, 2026

Johnstone faces four felony charges of willfully torturing, maiming, or mutilating animals.

On April 1, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department arrested Johnstone following a month-long animal cruelty investigation at Working Dogs of Nevada, a rescue facility.

Police obtained videos showing Johnstone using excessive shock collars on dogs, including young puppies, stepping on their leashes to violently yank their heads to the ground, and swinging the dogs around in mid-air by their leashes.

A total of 35 dogs were seized from the facility during the investigation.

The same day Johnstone was booked into the Clark County Detention Center, ICE issued a detainer.

Clark County officials cooperated fully and transferred him to ICE custody on April 2.

Johnstone had entered the United States in 2021 under the Visa Waiver Program but overstayed his authorized departure date of February 2022.

WATCH:

SICKENING.

Illegal alien John Young Cotter Johnstone TORTURED dogs at the Las Vegas animal shelter where he worked.

Thank you to the heroic men and women of @ICEgov who arrested this sick criminal so he can never torture another innocent animal again. https://t.co/r97oIwbtZu pic.twitter.com/l2Ps2y15GB

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) May 4, 2026

DHS officials did not mince words on social media or in their press release about the case.

“This disgusting criminal tortured dogs at the shelter where he worked,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Thanks to the cooperation of Clark County officials who honored the ICE detainer, this freak is in ICE custody. 7 of the 10 safest cities cooperate with ICE. We need more state and local politicians to work with us to keep criminals off our streets and out of our country.”

The post ICE Arrests Illegal Alien Dog Abuser Working at Vegas Animal Shelter, ‘This Freak is in ICE Custody So He Can Never Torture Another Innocent Animal Again’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.