10 Busted In ‘Depraved’ LI Dog Fighting Ring Takedown: DA

MASTIC, NY — Ten Long Island men — including a Mastic man known as the “Godfather of Dog Fighting”— have been busted for running an interstate dog fighting ring that nearly 100 dogs were rescued from, Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini said.

Sini said the ring operated across Long Island, New York City, Connecticut and Massachusetts. He described the operation, which contained mostly pit bulls, as a “horrifying cycle of violence” that was a “life of torture and brutality” for the dogs.

Members of the ring, who were masquerading as legitimate pit bull breeders, were taped describing how they mistreated the animals for weeks to months, Sini said, adding that it was done by withholding food, keeping them in cramped conditions, and separating puppies from their mothers, damaging them physically and psychologically, so that they would be conditioned to become violent and aggressive.

They would hold practice fights, known as "rolls," sometimes using puppies as young as six months old to see if they were fighters and if dogs failed they would kill them, using inhumane tactics like “plugging,” which is a form of electrocution, according to Sini.

Surviving dogs would go on to “a keep” where they would be treated better to help develop a bond with the trainer, said Sini, adding that they would be conditioned by using treadmills, flirt sticks, spring poles, weighted chains, treadmills, and performance enhancers like steroids.

To breed dogs they used methods like artificial insemination, but also rape stands to immobilize a female dog and force her to breed, Sini said.

The dogfighting matches would sometimes last hours, resulting in serious injuries, and even death, and in one case, a member of the ring bet $175,000 on a match, Sini said.

“These are defenseless animals were bred for one purpose: to kill or be killed for the mere entertainment of these depraved individuals,” he said. “As the evidence uncovered in this investigation shows, the only things these defendants cared about were money and their own personal status in this sick, underground network.”

“They did not care one bit about the lives and welfare of these dogs,” he added.

The DA’s office and Suffolk police, along with local, state, federal, and non-governmental agencies, began an investigation into alleged dogfighting taking place at homes across Long Island in early 2021, and it involved surveillance and intelligence, some of which was obtained through social media, as well as by other investigative tactics that Sini declined to speak about.

The dogs were found in homes, basements, garages, and sheds; some without food and water, and many of them displayed various medical conditions consistent with dog fighting, such as “scarring and broken teeth, and were exhibiting fearful behavior,” Sini said.

The arrestees included 80-year-old Mastic resident William “Mr. Bill” Ashton, known as the “Godfather of Dogfighting,” who calls himself the “[Original Gangster] Dogfighter on Long Island,” was one of the ring members who was known to use do-it-yourself methods to treat the dogs' injuries without proper medical training, Sini said.

“He literally wrote the book on dog-fighting,” said Sini, noting that investigators found a manual on dogfighting in his possession that he co-authored called “The Ultimate Gladiator,” and it was available online for purchase.

He was known in the community as an “accredited referee” and had several puppies in “deplorable conditions,” as well an older dog with serious, painful medical issues, Sini said.

Ashton is charged with two counts of violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, and possessing animal fighting paraphernalia.

He is expected to be arraigned on Aug. 19, Sini’s office said. It was not immediately clear if Ashton has an attorney.

Two of the first suspects identified in the case were Paul Whelan, 57, of Shirley and Darrel Madison, 44, of Mastic, according to Sini. Whelan used to host fights at his house and there is evidence that he electrocuted a dog badly injured in a fight, and 19 dogs and fighting implements were recovered from his house, Sini said.

Whelan was charged with two counts of violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals, and two counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia.

The name of Whelan's attorney was not available by deadline.

Madison hosted rolls at his house, and 12 dogs were recovered from there as well as a fighting pit, Sini said.

Madison was charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; two counts of violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, as well as overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals for failing to provide proper food and water. He was additionally charged with three counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia.

Madison was allegedly found with more than half a kilogram of cocaine during the execution of the search warrant and was charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Madison’s bail was set at $75,000 at his arraignment on Aug. 1, according to a spokeswoman for the DA’s office.

He faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, Sini’s office said.

Bay Shore residents Jontae Barker, 32, and Jerome Chapman, 39, bred and sold the dogs in the operation, Sini said. Barker also trained the dogs and when he learned of the search warrant, he obtained a hog hunting license on the advice of a co-conspirator to make police think his ownership of pit bulls was not linked to dog fighting, he added.

Chapman, who is Barker’s business partner and used his home as a kennel, was found with 22 dogs, Sini said.

Both are charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals, and three counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia.

Attorney Lindsey Henry said her client, Barker, is "innocent" and that investigators took his family dog, though there was no indication of dog fighting, Newsday reported.

Edward Hodge, 74, of Uniondale, bred and trained dogs, hosted fights at his house, and was caught with a fighting pit, Sini said.

He was charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals, and fourth-degree conspiracy, and two counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia.

Jeffrey Spencer, 65, of Wyandanch, acted as a broker that helped facilitate matches and also arranged bets, Sini said.

He was charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, and possessing animal fighting paraphernalia.

His attorney, Robert Macedonio of Central Islip, denied the allegations.

"On behalf of Mr. Spencer we have entered a plea of not guilty," he wrote in an email. "Mr. Spencer maintains his innocence of these charges."

Timothy Eury, 43, of Hempstead, was involved in the sale of the dog, Sini said. He was charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals, and fifth-degree conspiracy.

Charles Macwhinnie, 52, of Hampton Bays, was a breeder, trainer, and conditioner of dogs, Sini said. He was charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, and two counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia.

His attorney, Edward Sapone, told Newsday that his client "has not been involved in any of the conduct he is being charged with."

Joseph Owens, 49, of Amityville, is a relative of Spencer’s and was involved in training dogs for fights, Sini said.

He was charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals, and three counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia.

Macedonio, who is also Owens' attorney, said that his clients were not involved in animal fighting.

"They were not trained animals to fight," he said.

The charge of violation of the prohibition of animal fighting is an unclassified felony under the State’s Agriculture and Markets Law and is punishable by up to four years in prison, a fine or $25,000 or both, Sini's office said.

Also at the news conference, Sini announced he has empaneled Special Grand Jury to investigate crimes against animals, develop strategies to protect animals, and recommend laws to combat animal cruelty.

“Many of us have dogs as pets in our homes and we love them as another family member,” Sini said. “This case is about how a criminal network bred dogs, tortured them, and put them in serious harm’s way, just to make a buck.”

Acting Police Commissioner Stuart Cameron said that as an animal lover the case was one of the most disturbing cases I’ve seen in my 36 years with our department.”

“It also deeply disturbed our detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Squad as they worked on this case over an extended period of time and dealt with the abject cruelty of these defendants toward these helpless animals,” he said. “This was the largest and most brutal dogfighting rings this county has ever seen, but it is over now thanks to the work of our department, the DA’s Office, and several other agencies.”

Elizabeth Brandler, senior counsel for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Legal Advocacy and Investigations department called the case “brutal” and said it involved dozens of victimized animals, demonstrating “that dogfighting persists in every corner of America, requiring that we remain diligent in our effort to eradicate animal fighting across the country.”

“We are grateful that the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and Suffolk County Police Department chose to work with us on this complex case and for their commitment to stopping these despicable crimes, rescuing the animals involved, and bringing the perpetrators to justice,” she added.