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5 Georgia men sentenced to prison for running a dog fighting ring involving nearly 100 dogs

The dogs were rescued during a drug-trafficking investigation

FILE - A sign marks an entrance to the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, Jan. 23, 2023. The Justice Department's determination on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, that Boeing violated corporate probation for deceiving federal regulators does not necessarily mean that prosecutors will revive criminal charges against the giant aircraft manufacturer. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) (Patrick Semansky, Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

DUBLIN, Ga. – Five Georgia men were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a dog fighting operation involving nearly 100 dogs, according to the Department of Justice.

The DOJ said 96 dogs were rescued from the ring during searches that were part of a drug trafficking conspiracy across multiple counties.

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Two of the men involved in the dog fighting operation were also sentenced in connection with the drug trafficking conspiracy.

“As this investigation shows, animal fighting operations often occur in conjunction with other illegal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg of the Southern District of Georgia.

The five men pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act. They include:

  • Travis Martin, 43, of Wrightsville, Ga, was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $1,000. He was ordered the new sentence to be served consecutively to the 16-year sentence he’s serving as the leader of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
  • Sentell Carey, 41, of Wrightsville was sentenced to a year and a half in prison and fined $2,000. Carey is serving a probation sentence in the drug trafficking conspiracy.
  • Dennis Wilcher, 42, of Wrightsville was sentenced to 30 months in prison and fined $3,000.
  • Terry Gilmore, 28, of Sandersville Ga., was sentenced to 23 months in prison and a $2,500 fine.
  • Jonathan Linder, 35, of Rentz, Ga., was sentenced to 20 months and fined $2,000.

The men have been banned from engaging in any activity involving dogs and will serve three years of supervised release.

The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and DEA opened the investigation in 2022 that led to a 27-county federal indictment charging 11 defendants with participating in a meth and heroin distribution operation.

That investigation led to multiple searches of residences and vehicles and the seizure of large amounts of drugs, cash, and firearms.

The 96 dogs were rescued during that investigation as well, and a veterinary service rehabilitated the rescued dogs.


About the Author
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Hailing from Detroit, Jonathan is excited to start his media career at News4JAX in November 2023. He is passionate about telling stories that matter to the community and he is honored to serve Jacksonville.

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