Members of Indiana dogfighting ring sentenced to prison

A total of 13 men were sentenced for their roles in an Indiana dogfighting ring, according to a Monday news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana. Some of the men also received additional penalties for drug possession and illegal firearm possession.

Investigators uncovered the Indianapolis-based ring in September 2023. All 13 of the men either kept dogs for fighting purposes or served as handlers during fights, pushing dogs to attack one another, according to the attorney’s office. Some of them also served as referees, or transported or trained fighting dogs. Investigators rescued more than 100 dogs from the group, many of which had severe scars. The dogs were undergoing retraining in preparation for adoption programs. Ten other members of the ring were still awaiting sentencing, according to the attorney’s office.

What sentences did the men receive? Three of the group received roughly five-year sentences due to involvement in multiple crimes, including dogfighting and firearm possession by a convicted felon. Most of the others face prison sentences ranging from eight months to nearly four years. Two of the men who were more tangentially involved received time served, along with several years of supervised release. The attorney’s office did not provide information on what, if any, fines group members received.

Dig deeper: Read Liz Lykins’ report on charges against a man who allegedly attacked the home of OpenAI’s CEO.