New Jersey Dog-Fighting Ring Busted, 66 Dogs Rescued

Six New Jersey residents were among nine people charged Wednesday in four states for their roles in an interstate dog fighting network spanning from New Mexico to New Jersey, authorities said.

Since October 2015, those charged helped set up pit bull-type dogs for matches to maul and attack each other and fight – often until one or both dogs die, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman.

The defendants allegedly transported and delivered dogs between dog-fighters in various states, according to the release. In all, 66 dogs were recovered.

The charges include alleged criminal acts related to transporting, delivering, buying, selling, receiving, and possessing pit bull-type dogs for dog fighting ventures and conspiring to commit these acts in New Jersey and elsewhere throughout the United States, according to the release.

The federal Animal Welfare Act makes it a felony punishable by up to five years in prison to fight dogs or to possess, train, sell, buy, deliver, receive, or transport dogs intended for use in dog fighting, according to the release.

Criminal complaints filed in New Jersey named the following individuals, eight of whom were arrested:

• Anthony “Monte” Gaines, 35, of Vineland
• Justin Love, 36, of Westville
• Lydell Harris, 30, of Vineland
• Mario Atkinson, 40, of Asbury Park
• Frank Nichols, 39, of Millville
• Tiffany Burt, 34, of Vineland
• Dajwan Ware, 43, of Fort Wayne, Ind.
• Pedro Cuellar, 46, of Willow Springs, Ill.
• Robert Arellano, 62, of Albuquerque, N.M.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

The federal undercover investigation revealed that the defendants discussed graphic accounts of prior dog fights, and investigators discovered scarred dogs and dogs stacked in crates; dog fighting paraphernalia, such as dog treadmills, “flirt” poles used to build jaw strength and increase aggression; and animal pelts.

Also found and seen were surgical instruments, syringes and other tools used to mend dogs in lieu of seeking veterinary attention, according to the release.

This case is part of "Operation Grand Champion," a coordinated effort across numerous federal judicial districts to combat organized dog fighting. The phrase “Grand Champion” is used by dog fighters to refer to a dog with more than five dog-fighting “victories.”

“There is no place in New Jersey – or anywhere else, for that matter – for a vicious blood sport like dog fighting,” Fishman said. “Not only is it unspeakably cruel to the animals that are raised to participate in dog fighting, but animals trained in this way can be extremely dangerous to the public.”

The investigation is ongoing. The Humane Society of the Unites States is assisting with the care of the dogs seized by federal law enforcement.