This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

A Pentagon official has been arrested and charged with animal fighting following a federal investigation exposing his years-long involvement in dogfighting. Urge assistant U.S. attorneys handling this case to seek maximum penalties!

On September 6, 2023, law enforcement executed search warrants at the residences of Frederick Douglass Moorefield Jr., a Deputy Chief Information Officer for Command, Control, and Communications with the Secretary of Defense and his associate, Mario Damon Flythe both of Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, law enforcement “recovered veterinary steroids, training schedules, a carpet that appeared to be stained with blood, and a weighted dog vest with a patch reading Geehad Kennels,” in addition to a “device consisting of an electrical plug and jumper cables” they believe was used to cruelly kill dogs who lost fights. Flythe operated Razor Sharp Kennels.

They used encrypted messaging to talk about various methods of training dogs for illegal dogfighting, exchange videos about dogfighting, and set up dogfights. They also mentioned betting on dogfighting, dogs who died as a result of dogfighting, and sent articles to each other about dogfighters arrested in addition to discussing how to hide their actions from law enforcement.

Both men have been charged with “promoting and furthering” dogfighting. Twelve dogs were rescued and were placed with a contractor who works with the Department of Justice for rehabilitation.

Moorefield and Flythe were indicted on Oct. 3, 2023, on 10 felonies each including conspiracy. At their arraignment on October 6, they pled not guilty to all charges before U.S. District Magistrate Judge A David Copperthite in Baltimore. Though under the supervision of U.S. Pretrial Services, unfortunately, they were not detained or bonded.

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.