Nation’s First Federal Conviction for Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of Dog Fighting
Dun Terrius Bradford, of Sale City, Georgia, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison after being convicted in December of 69 counts of illegally possessing dogs for fighting purposes, one count of manufacturing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of those offenses. In addition to the prison sentence, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia also imposed five years of supervised release and $6900 in mandatory assessment. The 67 pit bull-type dogs rescued from Bradford’s residence were, at the time, the third-most dogs rescued in any federal case. This case also marks the nation’s first federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting.
One of 67 dogs rescued from Bradford’s residence.
“Dog fighting is organized crime, and it’s a magnet for other criminal activity, as this case demonstrates,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Americans detest animal cruelty and the illegal drugs and guns that come with it. The Department of Justice is fighting to get these criminal elements out of our neighborhoods.”
“Dog fighting is a grave act of animal cruelty that breeds crime and depravity, bringing illegal drugs, firearms and violence into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “This first-ever federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting demonstrates our commitment to working with law enforcement partners to dismantle these criminal organizations and protect both animals and the communities they harm.”
“This investigation exposed a dangerous criminal operation involving organized dog fighting activities that inflicted horrific abuse on animals while also serving as a breeding ground for other serious criminal activity such as the narcotics and firearms violations that this defendant engaged in,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Inspector General John Walk. “This case demonstrates USDA OIG’s commitment to aggressively pursuing those who profit from animal cruelty, and we thank our law enforcement partners and the prosecutors who worked with us to ensure this defendant was held accountable.”
“This case demonstrates the good results achieved when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies collaborate to rescue dogs suffering at the hands of those involved in dog fighting and related crimes,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Joseph “Joe” Chapman for the Middle District of Georgia. “The U.S. Marshals remain committed to supporting law enforcement in bringing those responsible for dog fighting to justice and ensuring that rescued canines are placed in protective custody, giving them a chance at a better life.”
According to court documents and trial evidence submitted in this case, Bradford maintained a stock of 67 fighting dogs at his home in Sale City. At this compound, agents also recovered tools and supplies used in the training and keeping of dogs used for fighting, including: blood-splattered treadmills that had been modified to hold dogs in place conditioning; injectable veterinary steroids; a homemade “breeding stand” used to immobilize female dogs too aggressive for breeding; a cattle shock prod with dog DNA on the tip; and a large cinder-block water tank used to tether dogs that had to tread water to keep from drowning. Officers also recovered cocaine base and the pot in which it was cooked, plus four firearms.
Water tank used to train dogs.
Blood-spattered treadmill used to train dogs.
Under federal law, it is illegal to fight dogs in a venture that affects interstate commerce and to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase, or receive dogs for fighting purposes. This case was the first in the nation in which prosecutors obtained a federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting.
USDA-OIG and the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Criminal Chief Leah McEwen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and former Senior Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morrill and Paralegal Kristi Cote for the Middle District of Georgia handled a parallel civil forfeiture proceeding to ensure that the dogs did not have to be returned to Bradford. The Seized Canine Program of the U.S. Marshals Service cared for the rescued dogs pending legal process.