ALBANY, Ga. — A 55-year-old Georgia man was sentenced to years in prison for operating a dog-fighting and drug enterprise.
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Terrius Bradford, 55, of Sale City, Ga., was sentenced today to 120 months in prison. His sentencing includes the first federal conviction in the nation for possessing guns in furtherance of dog fighting.
In addition to the 10-year prison term, Bradford was ordered to serve five years of supervised release. Federal agents rescued 67 pit bull-type dogs from his property, which was the third-largest rescue in any federal case at the time of the offense.
Search results from Bradford’s home revealed a compound designed for training and breeding fighting dogs. Agents recovered blood-splattered treadmills that had been modified to hold dogs in place for conditioning, as well as injectable veterinary steroids. Investigators also found a cattle shock prod with dog DNA on the tip and a homemade breeding stand used to immobilize aggressive female dogs. A large cinder-block water tank was recovered, which agents said was used to force tethered dogs to tread water.
Beyond the animal cruelty evidence, officers seized four guns and cocaine base along with the pot in which it was cooked. Bradford was convicted in December of 69 counts of illegal dog possession, one count of manufacturing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base and one count of firearm possession. Federal law prohibits fighting dogs in ventures affecting interstate commerce and the training, transport or sale of dogs for fighting purposes.
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Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division described dog fighting as a magnet for other criminal activities.
“Dog fighting is organized crime and it’s a magnet for other criminal activity, as this case demonstrates,” Gustafson said. “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.”
U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Ga. emphasized the link between animal cruelty and community violence.
“Dog fighting is a grave act of animal cruelty that breeds crime and depravity, bringing illegal drugs, firearms and violence into our communities,” Keyes said. He added that the firearms conviction demonstrates a commitment to dismantling criminal organizations that harm both animals and communities.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Inspector General John Walk noted the investigation exposed horrific abuse.
“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,” Walk said. Walk thanked the prosecutors and law enforcement partners for ensuring the defendant was held accountable.
Acting U.S. Marshal Joseph “Joe” Chapman for the Middle District of Ga. said the results were achieved through collaboration between local, state and federal agencies. “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,” Chapman said.
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