Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has sentenced Mario Damon Flythe, a 50-year-old resident of Glen Burnie, Maryland, to six months in federal prison followed by six months of home detention. This will be succeeded by three years of supervised release. Flythe was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and an additional $2,800 in a forfeiture money judgment for his role in a multi-state dogfighting conspiracy.
The sentencing was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan from the FBI's Washington Field Office - Criminal and Cyber Division; Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard from the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General; Clinton Fuchs, U.S. Marshal for Maryland; and Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Chief.
Flythe was involved with the same dogfighting organization as co-defendant Frederick Douglass Moorfield Jr., operating under "Razor Sharp Kennels." He used his residence to keep, train, and breed dogs for fights over several years.
Investigations into Flythe's cellphone records revealed numerous messages related to dogfighting on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram with members of a group called the "DMV Board." These communications included arranging fights and wagers, discussing breeding and training fighting dogs, procuring supplies for their care, and speculating about law enforcement actions against dogfighters.
Messages showed Flythe arranging or "hooking" fights by identifying the weight and sex of dogs he wanted to sponsor. Other participants would propose matches against their own dogs or connect him with others who had suitable opponents. They agreed on wagers and set fight dates typically six to eight weeks later. Terms included winner's fees and penalties if someone withdrew before a match.
Flythe trained his dogs using treadmills, weighted collars, diet plans, and steroids obtained through his network rather than legitimate prescriptions. Sponsored fights continued until a dog died or its owner forfeited.
Between 2019 and 2023, Flythe received payments via CashApp related to these activities while also sending funds within his network.
On September 6, 2023, investigators found seven pit-bull type dogs at Flythe’s home during a search—four were chained outside while three were caged indoors. Flythe admitted to breeding or training them for fighting purposes.
U.S. Attorney Barron praised multiple agencies including the FBI; USDA Office of Inspector General; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Marshals Service; Anne Arundel County Police Department; Anne Arundel County Animal Control; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Eastern Virginia for their assistance in this investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Levin prosecuted the case federally.
For more details about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office's priorities and community resources visit www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.