Gecoby Penn, 37, has been sentenced to two years in prison following his guilty plea to seventeen counts of possessing dogs for the purpose of animal fighting. The sentence was delivered on Friday, with Penn having entered his guilty pleas on May 3, 2024.
Court documents reveal that on July 29, 2023, law enforcement from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office acted upon a tip-off regarding a dogfighting event held on July 27, 2023. The informant detailed multiple matches resulting in several dogs sustaining injuries. Descriptions included severe lacerations to the dogs' bodies and one dog suffering from significant head and facial wounds.
On August 3, 2023, authorities executed a search warrant at Penn's property. They seized thirty-eight dogs; twenty-one showed injuries or scarring consistent with dogfighting. These animals were found tied outside without shelter or water in temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Additionally, law enforcement confiscated various items linked to dogfighting activities including modified treadmills for conditioning, veterinary medications and syringes, weighted vests and collars for dogs, and canine remains.
During sentencing, Judge DuBose handed down a sentence of twenty-four months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release during which Penn is prohibited from owning or possessing any dogs. He was also ordered to pay restitution totaling $62,408.06 to the Monroe County Animal Shelter and $2,348 to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office along with $1,700 in special assessments.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuting.