Hampton Bays Man Charged In Massive Dog Fighting Ring Takedown

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — A Hampton Bays man was one of 10 people arrested and charged in the largest takedown of a dog fighting ring in New York State history, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said.

According to Sini, 89 dogs were rescued in connection with the interstate ring that spanned Long Island, New York City, and other locations.

Search warrants were executed by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Suffolk County Police Department, ASPCA and other agencies at nine locations in Suffolk County, three locations in Nassau County, and one location in Brooklyn on July 31 and Aug. 1, Sini said.

The dogs were found in various locations in the residences, including basements, garages, and sheds, and some were without food and water, Sini said. Many of the dogs displayed various medical conditions consistent with dog fighting, including scarring and broken teeth, and were exhibiting fearful behavior, Sini said. An additional eight dogs were rescued by law enforcement authorities in Connecticut, Sini said.

Those charged began setting dogs up in practice fights, known as “rolls,” when they were as young as approximately six months old, Sini said. Through adulthood, the dogs were subjected to inadequate living conditions and improper sustenance as well as rigorous training programs designed to increase their tenacity, agility, and bite strength, Sini said.

When the dogs were determined to be ready to fight, a “broker” would orchestrate match-ups based on the dogs’ weight and sex, among other factors, Sini said. Dog fighters looking to participate in a fight, also known as a “match,” would pay a buy-in fee known as a “forfeit” to have their dog entered into the fight, and the winning dog fighter would receive all of the proceeds, Sini said.

Bets were also placed on the outcomes of fights — violent events that can last several hours long and result in serious physical injuries or death for the participating dogs, Sini said.

The men charged would engage in unlicensed medical treatment for injured dogs, as well as killing dogs that were either severely injured or had underperformed in fights, Sini said. They also made money by selling puppies descended from dogs who were successful in past fights and were considered to have strong “bloodlines," Sini said.

The search warrants resulted in the recovery of various dog fighting paraphernalia, including veterinary surgical supplies, such as a skin stapler; “rape stands,” which are used to immobilize female dogs during breeding; plugging cords, which are used in the electrocution of dogs; steroids and other supplements used to enhance the dogs’ performance; “break sticks,” which are used to break dogs apart by their mouths when they are fighting; and equipment used to strengthen the dogs’ agility, tenacity and bite strength, including treadmills and spring poles, Sini said.

Law enforcement rescued 81 dogs at the various locations in New York; the dogs were relocated to an emergency shelter operated by the ASPCA, where they are receiving veterinary forensic exams and behavior evaluations, medical care, and behavioral enrichment and treatment, Sini said.

Arrested and charged, Sini said, were:

- Charles Macwhinnie, 52, of Hampton Bays, was arrested and charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, a felony, and two counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

- William Ashton, a/k/a “Mr. Bill,” 80, of Mastic, was arrested and charged with two counts of violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, a felony, and possessing animal fighting paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

- Jontae Barker, 32, of Bay Shore, was arrested and charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, a felony; overdriving, torturing and injuring animals (failure to provide proper sustenance), a misdemeanor; and three counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

- Edward Hodge, 74, of Uniondale, was arrested and charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, a felony; overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals (failure to provide proper sustenance), a misdemeanor; fifth-degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor; and two counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

- Darrel Madison, 44, of Mastic, was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony; two counts of violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, a felony; overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals (failure to provide proper sustenance), a misdemeanor; and three counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, Sini said. During the execution of the search warrants, Madison was found in possession of more than half a kilogram of cocaine, Sini said.

- Jeffrey Spencer, 65, of Wyandanch, was arrested and charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, a felony, and possessing animal fighting paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

- Paul Whelan, 57, of Shirley, was arrested and charged with two counts of violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, a felony; overdriving, torturing and injuring animals (failure to provide proper sustenance), a misdemeanor; and two counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

- Jerome Chapman, 39, of Bay Shore, was arrested and charged with two counts of violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, a felony; overdriving, torturing and injuring animals (failure to provide proper sustenance), a misdemeanor; and three counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

- Timothy Eury, 43, of Hempstead, was arrested and charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, a felony; overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals (failure to provide proper sustenance), a misdemeanor; and fifth-degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

- Joseph Owens, 49, of Amityville, was arrested and charged with violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, a felony; overdriving, torturing and injuring animals (failure to provide proper sustenance), a misdemeanor; and three counts of possessing animal fighting paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, Sini said.

If convicted of the top count of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, Madison faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, Sini said. If convicted of the top count of violation of the prohibition of animal fighting, the remaining men charged each face a maximum sentence of up to four years in prison, a fine of up to $25,000, or both, Sini said.

The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office and Suffolk County Police Department, in collaboration with local, state, federal and non-governmental agencies, began an investigation into dog fighting that was taking place at residences across Long Island in early 2021, Sini said.

The investigation involved surveillance and intelligence obtained through social media – among other investigative tactics —and revealed that those involved were involved in the breeding, training, and illegal fighting of pit bulls, Sini said.

With an eye toward change, Sini announced the creation of a special grand jury to investigate the case, develop strategies to more effectively protect animals, and to make legislative recommendations to combat animal cruelty, Sini said.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Investigative Counsel Christiana McSloy and Assistant District Attorney Laura Sarowitz of the Enhanced Prosecution Bureau.

Sini was joined Monday to announce the takedown by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, New York State Police, Suffolk County Police Department, New York City Police Department, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Nassau County Police Department, and the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to announce the arrests.

“We will not tolerate these types of crimes — crimes that injure and, in many cases, result in the death of vulnerable animals,” Sini said. “Many of us have dogs as pets in our homes and we love them as another family member. 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 . . . These arrests represent a significant blow to dogfighting, certainly here on Long Island and we believe it will have impacts throughout the northeast.”

“As an animal lover, I have to say, this is one of the most disturbing cases I’ve seen in my 36 years with our department,” Suffolk County Acting Police Commissioner Stuart Cameron added. “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.”