Wednesday, Jul. 08, 2009

Five from metro-east charged in federal dog-fighting investigation

EAST ST. LOUIS - Federal prosecutors have charged five metro-east men with involvement in a dog-fighting conspiracy.

William Berry, 34, of Lebanon; Derrick Courtland, 42, of Cahokia; John Bacon, 36, of Fairview Heights; Julius Jackson, 40, of East St. Louis; and Joseph Addison, 40, of East St. Louis are charged with conspiracy to commit dog-fighting, U.S. Attorney A. Courtney Cox announced Wednesday.

According to the charges, the defendants organized dog fights in East St. Louis and Washington Park, charging spectators $20 apiece for admission.

About 40 spectators were on hand for one fight. Some dogs came from other states, and were trained to fight. Court documents indicate that the two dog owners in one fight wagered $2,000.

Special Agent Carole Schmitt of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's inspector general's office stated in court fiings that "as part of the conspiracy, the defendants and their co-conspirators did provide funding for expenses associated with the ongoing animal fighting venture, including training materials, dog food, medicine, travel expenses, and purse fees for dog fighting competitions."

The defendants allegedly conspired in Madison and St. Clair counties between November and April.

The defendants were taken into custody and appeared before a federal magistrate Wednesday. Preliminary hearings are set for Aug. 5.

Cox released the following statement: "In addition to the charges unsealed today in the Southern District of Illinois, related charges were also filed in separate cases arising from the same investigation in the Eastern District of Missouri, the Western District of Missouri ... and the Eastern District of Texas. Those indictments were also unsealed today following the arrests of defendants in those districts."

Altogether, authorities arrested 26 suspects Wednesday and seized 350 dogs in Illinois, Missouri, Texas and other states. The U.S. Humane Society called it the largest simultaneous raid of multiple dogfighting operations in U.S. history.

Addison and Jackson are identified in the charges as co-owners of Back Street Truez kennel.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Dog-fighting gained national attention in 2007 with the arrest of former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.

Vick has served an 18-month sentence in federal prison for his involvement in a dogfighting ring. He is under home confinement until July 20.