Canine Cruelty: Five-State Dog Fighting Ring Busted

FBI agents helped bust the largest dog fighting operation ever seen in the U.S. A year-long investigation by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies has resulted in the arrests of approximately 30 people across five states in what officials are calling the largest dog fighting operation ever seen in the U.S. In addition to the arrests, about 350 dogsmostly pit bull terrierswere seized during early-morning raids in Missouri, Texas, Illinois, Iowa, and Oklahoma and will be cared for by local humane societies. Those arrested for their involvement face felony charges that carry maximum sentences of five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. Forcing a dog to fight to its death is not a sport, said John Gillies, special agent in charge of our St. Louis office. The FBI played a significant role in the multi-agency investigation that in the Eastern District of Missouri resulted in the arrests of five men and the seizure of more than 150 dogs at a variety of dog fighting locations. There is nothing respectable about encouraging two animals to torture and dismember each other, Gillies said. According to the indictments, the defendants acquired, bred, and trained pit bull dogs for the purpose of fighting. The defendants denied the dogs adequate medical treatment as a result of injuries suffered after the fights, and they routinely destroyed dogssometimes by electrocutionthat became severely injured after fighting. In Kansas City, Missouri, defendants allegedly constructed fighting pits for the dog fights, were timekeepers and referees during the fights, and placed wagers on the outcomes. The fights were often so violent and bloody that some of the defendants were designated as sponge menthey provided sponges to the dogs handlers to wipe blood from their dogs or to cool them down during the fight. After a set of fights last April, the indictment says, one of the defendants used a .22-caliber rifle to shoot and kill two dogs who fought but didnt perform up to his expectations. The dogs were shot in the head twice, then placed in plastic containers outside the garage where the fights had taken place. Indicted in the Eastern District of Missouri: * Michael Morgan, aka Missouri Mike, 38, of Hannibal, Mo., on two felony counts of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and one felony count of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures; * Robert Hackman, 55, of Foley, Mo., on two felony counts of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and two felony counts of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures; * Teddy Kiriakidis, aka Teddy Bogart, 50, of Leasburg, Mo., on one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses; * Ronald Creach, 34, of Leslie, Mo., on one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses, and; * Jack Ruppel, 35, of Eldon, Mo., on two felony counts of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and two felony counts of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures. Rick P. Hihath, 55, of St. Joseph, Mo., Cris E. Bottcher, 48, of Gilman City, Mo., Julio Reyes, 28, of Tecumseh, Neb., Jill D. Makstaller, 43, of Perry, Iowa, Zachary R. Connelly, 32, of Ogden, Iowa, Kevin P. Tasler, 51, of Jefferson, Iowa, and Ryan J. Tasler, 42, of Woodward, Iowa, were charged in a five-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City on June 23, 2009. During the arrests and execution of search warrants, officers from multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies seized 53 dogs in early morning raids on several locations involved in dog fighting ventures. In addition to the indictment in the Western District of Missouri, 19 defendants were also charged in separate cases arising from the same investigation in three other districts. In total, more than 350 dogsprimarily pit bull terrierswere seized in a series of coordinated raids. The federal indictment returned in the Western District of Missouri alleges that, from Jan. 15 to May 8, 2009, each of the defendants participated in a conspiracy to travel across state lines to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture and to aid in illegal gambling and bookmaking activities. Hihath works for a state school for the handicapped. Bottcher is a registered nurse employed at Harrison County Community Hospital in Bethany, Mo. Ryan Tasler is employed by the Madrid Com! munity School District. According to the indictment, the defendants acquired, bred, and trained pit bull dogs for the purpose of entering them in animal fighting ventures. The indictment alleges that the defendants denied the dogs adequate and humane medical treatment of wounds and injuries suffered as a result of the dog fights. The defendants routinely and inhumanely destroyed dogs that became severely injured as a result of a fight, the indictment says, by shooting the dogs in the head, then throwing the carcasses into the river or burning them in a barrel. In addition to the conspiracy, the indictment charges both Hihath and Bottcher in two counts of sponsoring or exhibiting a pit bull dog in an animal fighting venture. Makstaller, Reyes and Kevin Tasler are each charged in one count of transporting animals for participation in an animal fighting venture, and Zachary Connelly and Ryan Tasler are each charged in one count of transporting animals for participation in an animal fighting venture. The U.S. Attorneys Office also filed motions seeking to take legal ownership of the dogs and place the animals in the care and custody of the Humane Society. Under federal law, the government can seek the forfeit of any animals engaged in an animal fighting venture. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney is seeking a court order requiring the defendants to reimburse the Humane Society for all costs incurred for care of the animals while the animals are in the custody of the Humane Society. The federal indictment cites three dog fights that were allegedly held at Bottchers farm homestead in Gilman City, in which the defendants participated. On Feb. 28, 2009, two dog fights allegedly occurred. Hihath fought a dog named Black Sheep and Bottcher fought a dog named Pope Joe for the match fight. According to the indictment, Hihath and Bottcher constructed the fighting pit for the dog fights. Hihath was the referee for the match, the indictment says, when Bottcher handled the dog named Pope Joe, and also held the bet monies for that fight. Both Hihath and Bottcher allegedly placed bets on that match fight. Three dog fighters from central Iowa allegedly attended the fightKevin Tasler, Ryan Tasler and Connelly. Ryan Tasler was the spongemanproviding sponges to the dogs handlers to wipe blood off their dogs or cool them down during the fights. On April 25, 2009, 12 roll fights allegedly occurred. (Rolls are shorter fights between two dogs that are used by dog fighters as a means of building confidence and exposing their prospective fighting dog to a variety of fighting styles. They are viewed as a way to test younger fighting prospects, and usually dont involve any betting.) According to the indictment, Bottcher facilitated those dog fights in an outbuilding garage on the homestead. Hihath allegedly promoted this dog fighting event and had at least two dogs fight in the event. Several dog fighters from Iowa attended and participated in the fight, the indictment says, including Kevin Tasler and Makstaller. Reyes, a dog fighter from Nebraska, also attended the fights and transported two dogs to participate in the fights, according to the indictment. Hihath allegedly handled a dog in five of the 12 rolls, while Bottcher allegedly handled a dog in four of the rolls. At the end of the fight, the indictment says, Bottcher used a .22-caliber rifle to shoot and kill two dogs who fought in roll fights that night but did not perform to the handlers/owners expectations. Bottcher allegedly shot each animal twice in the head, then placed the carcasses in plastic containers outside of the garage. On May 8, 2009, two match dog fights allegedly occurred. According to the indictment, Bottcher facilitated the fights in an outbuilding garage and was the handler for his dog, Pope Joe, for the first fight of the night. Hihath allegedly promoted the fights, handled the bet monies for the fights, and was the referee for the second fight. Bottcher and Hihath allegedly constructed the pit for the dog fight. Thirteen dogs were observed in the fenced yard of Bottchers homestead and an unknown number of dogs were seen behind a board fence in Bottchers dog yard. Four dog fighters from IowaConnelly, Ryan Tasler, Kevin Tasler and Makstallerattended the fights, according to the indictment. Connelly allegedly handled his dog, Tommy, in the second fight of the night. Makstaller was the referee for the first fight, the indictment says, and the timekeeper for the second fight. Tasler was the timekeeper and spongeman for the first fight, according to the indictment. Reyes allegedly brought his dog from Nebraska to the fights and was the spongeman for the second fight. Bottcher, Hihath, Ryan Tasler, Kevin Tasler, Reyes, Connelly, and Makstaller allegedly wagered bets that night. On July 7, 2009, William Berry, 34, of Lebanon, Ill.; Derrick Courtland, 42, of Cahokia, Ill.; and John Bacon, 36, Julius Jackson, 40, Joseph Addison, 40, all of East St. Louis, Ill., were charged in a criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit unlawful activities of dog fighting. On July 8, 2009, agents and officers executed a federal arrest warrant in Panola County, Texas and Gregg County, Texas. Nine dogs, mostly pit bull terriers, were seized during a search of property in rural Panola County. A licensed veterinarian was on-site to examine and provide any necessary care to the dogs. Also on-site were representatives of the Humane Society of the United States, who have been consulted during the investigation. Those named in the indictment are Karl S. Courtney aka Shane, 34, of Beckville, Texas; Jerry S. Chism, aka Scotty, 34, of Longview, Texas; Jerry L. Beene, 69, of Hampton, Ark.; Jerry L. Matlock, 57, of Stilwell, Okla.; Chase M. Courtney, 26, of Carthage, Texas; Devin L. Pelzi, 29, of Beckville, Texas; Michael L. Beene, 36, of Hampton, Ark.; Harold D. Stewart, 41, of Beckville, Texas; and Chad A. Courtney, 30, of Carthage, Texas. On June 30, 2009, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging the nine defendants with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States; sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in an animal fighting venture; and buying, selling, delivering or transporting animals for participation in an animal fighting venture. The violation is alleged to have taken place between Nov. 18, 2008, and April 18, 2009, in St. Clair and Madison Counties of Illinois. Thanks to a 2007 federal law championed by animal welfare organizations, dog fighting is banned throughout the country and is a felony in all 50 states.