Transformer Accused Of Torturing Cats In Cancer Fundraising Scam Faces Felony Charges

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Warning....

Henrico Police has made an arrest in an animal cruelty case involving fraud.

On the evening of Thursday, Feb.12, 2026, Henrico Police was notified by the Attorney General’s Office and Chesterfield County Animal Control Officers of a potential scammer posting cats in distress and attempting to solicit money from the public online.

Henrico Detectives immediately began investigating and through community assistance and multi-agency cooperation were able to locate the places where this content was being produced.

Detectives identified the suspect as Rodney Travis Jr., 27, of Chesterfield.

On Friday, February 13, 2026, alongside members of Henrico’s Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and Chesterfield Police, Mr. Travis was arrested at his residence in
Chesterfield County. He was transported to Henrico County Jail West where he was charged with one count of animal cruelty.

Several cats have been seized and are receiving proper veterinarian care. This is an active investigation and additional charges are forthcoming

https://henrico.gov/assets/260215.-Henrico-Police-Make-Animal-Cruelty-and-Fraud-Arrest-1.pdf

Police identified Rodney Travis Jr., also known online as “Debbie Crankin,” as the individual accused of operating the disturbing social media fraud scheme.

A Chesterfield man is sitting behind bars accused of posting hundreds of videos online showing multiple cats in extreme distress to try and scam people out of their money.

Last Friday, Henrico Police arrested 27-year-old Rodney Travis Jr., who is facing four felony charges, including animal cruelty and fraud.

In a criminal complaint obtained by 12 On Your Side on Tuesday morning, investigators talked about a specific set of videos showing a grey striped tabby cat named Hayden.

“A veterinarian observed the videos and advised that the cat appears to have head trauma, a broken jaw, is in respiratory distress, and appears under the influence of drugs in many videos posted over the course of the last month,” stated the court documents.


Investigators believe Travis rented a Henrico hotel room three different times to record the videos, which were posted between Jan. 21 and Feb. 13 on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

In the videos, investigators said the cat appears to be in “various levels of distress,” which includes bleeding from his mouth and nose.

The videos, posted on social media, stated the cat has cancer and has only a certain number of days to live.


On each platform, investigators uncovered links for people to donate towards the cat’s treatment, which turned out to be a scam.

“Two pinned posts are of what appears to be a fraudulent vet bill totaling $35,892.14,” stated the criminal complaint.

The criminal complaint said officers used a search warrant to go through Travis’s home in Chesterfield on Feb. 13.

Hayden and seven other cats were taken to an emergency veterinarian center.


“The veterinarian, after examining and x-raying ‘Hayden,’ discovered he had a fractured skull, multiple broken ribs, and a fractured spine in the process of healing,” read the criminal complaint.

“The allegations that are laid out in the criminal complaint, that of course is a public record, is a history of actions that are just incredibly troubling,” said Henrico Commonwealth’s Attorney Shannon Taylor. “The idea of anybody in any circumstance would harm an animal for whatever purpose is something that in Henrico County, I can tell you, we will not tolerate.”

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‘Incredibly troubling’: Man accused of torturing cats in online scam

Rodney Travis Jr. is being held without bond.

www.12onyourside.com

WHAT POLICE ALLEGE HAPPENED​

• Cats were intentionally injured
• Videos of their suffering were posted online
• Viewers were told the cats had cancer
• Fake or misleading veterinary bills were shared (one exceeding $35,000)
• Compassionate donors were pressured to send money

Videos showed cats bleeding from the mouth and nose, struggling to walk, and gasping for air.

VETERINARY FINDINGS​

A veterinarian reviewing the videos reported signs consistent with:

• Head trauma
• Broken jaw
• Respiratory distress
• Possible drug influence

One rescued kitten was later found to have:

• Fractured skull
• Multiple broken ribs
• Healing spinal fracture

HOW THE SCAM WORKED​

This was not a rescue effort.

Authorities allege the injuries were inflicted and then used to manipulate donors.

Emotional captions were designed to make viewers feel guilty if they didn’t donate. People believed they were saving dying cats. Instead, police say the suffering was used to generate money.

INVESTIGATORS SAY THIS WAS A SOPHISTICATED ONLINE FUNDRAISING OPERATION​

Public reporting indicates Travis previously raised approximately $368,000 through a GoFundMe campaign related to gender transition expenses, demonstrating significant experience in online fundraising and social media promotion.

Authorities now allege he used similar online tactics to solicit donations through the suffering of injured cats.

WHAT INVESTIGATORS FOUND​

• Videos filmed in Henrico County hotel rooms
• Blood evidence and large amounts of cat hair
• Multiple injured cats in his possession

Police seized eight cats. They are now receiving veterinary care.

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Henrico County, Virginia : Authorities say a man intentionally injured cats, filmed their suffering, and used the videos to solicit […]

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[420702]

Tranny... Tranny... has Tranny fanny.

 

[cubby]

Poor kitties. Such a horrible way to coerce people into sending him money.send

Why doesn't he do what a lot of TikTok, Instagram, etc, do just fucking ask for money. I see something like that every day. Donate me a house, $200 so I can pay my bills, don't play around just tell your subscribers the truth, if you don't send you more money you will kill a cat, which is basically what he's doing.