All 14 individuals indicted in a federal dog fighting case in Albany, Georgia, have been convicted. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia accepted guilty pleas from the defendants involved in a large-scale dog fighting event held on April 24, 2022, in Donalsonville, Georgia.
The defendants include Tamichael Elijah, Marvin Pulley III, Brandon Baker, Christopher Travis Beaumont, Herman Buggs Jr., Terrance Davis, Timothy Freeman, Terelle Ganzy, Gary Hopkins, Cornelious Johnson, Rodrecus Kimble, Donnametric Miller, Willie Russell and Fredricus White. These individuals were charged with organizing and participating in dog fights involving 24 pit bull-type dogs.
Law enforcement discovered numerous dogs on the property where the event took place. They found dogs inside crates in cars and some chained outside. A total of 27 dogs were rescued; one severely injured dog died shortly after being found.
Federal law prohibits activities related to dog fighting that affect interstate commerce. This includes possessing or training dogs for fighting purposes. Most defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the animal fighting prohibition under the federal Animal Welfare Act. Some also admitted to additional charges such as sponsoring or exhibiting a dog fight or unlawfully possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions.
Willie Russell is scheduled for sentencing on February 28. Sentencing dates for other defendants have not been set yet. Each defendant faces up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000 per count of animal fighting charges. Miller could face up to ten years for firearm possession charges while Pulley could face up to fifteen years.
The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker for the Middle District of Georgia.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General alongside detectives from Seminole County Sheriff's Office and Bay County Sheriff's Office in Florida who provided assistance.
Senior Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy and Trial Attorney Leigh Rendé are prosecuting with support from Criminal Chief Leah McEwen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morrill and Paralegal Kristi Cote handled civil forfeiture proceedings ensuring rescued dogs were not returned to their previous owners.
###