ALBANY, Ga. – On Thursday, federal prosecutors revealed the final sentencing in a significant dog fighting case that involved several states and led to the conviction of 14 people. The defendants were sentenced to a total of 343 months in prison for their participation in an illegal dog fighting operation that was dismantled in 2022 in Donalsonville, Georgia.
These sentences are the result of a comprehensive investigation conducted by a coalition of agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bay County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office.
“This brutal and organized criminal activity will not be tolerated,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson, calling dog fighting a “magnet for other criminal activity.” Authorities also discovered and seized methamphetamine during the raid, reinforcing the broader criminal context.
The bust in April 2022 was triggered by a 911 call that alerted law enforcement to an active dog fighting event. That night, twenty-seven dogs were saved, including one that was found severely injured in a blood-stained fighting pit. Ultimately, a total of 78 pit bull-type dogs were rescued during the wider investigation, many of which had been kept in vehicles, waiting for their turn to fight.
The defendants were discovered to have engaged in the “dog fighting industry” across Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. Evidence such as videos, photographs, and group text messages exposed the brutality and extent of their participation. One disturbing image depicted a dog that had been hanged to death in a garage.
The most severe sentence—100 months in prison—was handed down to Donnametric Miller from Donalsonville, Georgia. Other defendants received prison sentences ranging from 6 to 35 months, while two were placed under home confinement. Additionally, restitution was mandated to cover the expenses related to the care of the rescued animals.
Officials emphasized that the case reflects a strong commitment to animal welfare and public safety. “The brutality of dog fighting, combined with armed drug distribution, negatively affects our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker for the Middle District of Georgia.
Under federal law, it is illegal to engage in dog fighting or possess dogs for fighting if the venture affects interstate commerce—a charge all 14 defendants were convicted of in this case.
