INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Animal Wellness Action applauded federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials following the sentencing of over a dozen individuals involved in a large-scale dogfighting and illegal gambling operation in central Indiana, calling the case a stark reminder of the organized and dangerous nature of animal fighting enterprises.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, 13 defendants have been sentenced to a combined total of approximately 30 years in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to engage in a dogfighting venture. Ten additional defendants are awaiting sentencing. The operation, uncovered during a broader drug trafficking investigation in 2023, involved the staging of brutal dogfights, illegal gambling, and coordinated roles among participants, including handlers, trainers, and organizers.
Authorities rescued more than 100 dogs from the operation and recovered disturbing video evidence showing prolonged and violent fights, often resulting in severe injuries or death. Law enforcement also seized firearms, ammunition, and extensive dogfighting paraphernalia—underscoring the dangerous nexus between animal fighting and other criminal activities.
“This case spotlights the unmistakable markers of a large-scale animal fighting enterprise,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “When investigators uncover organized roles, gambling operations, weapons, and animals bred and conditioned for combat, it’s clear this isn’t isolated cruelty—it’s a coordinated criminal network. Never do we see animal fighting as a standalone offense; it’s almost always tied to illegal gambling, narcotics trafficking, and other serious crimes.”
Animal Wellness Action noted that both dogfighting and cockfighting remain pervasive across the U.S., often operating underground but with extensive interstate networks. The organization emphasized that animal fighting operations are frequently disguised as breeding or agricultural operations, a tactic commonly used by cockfighters to evade detection.
“This is barbaric cruelty carried out for profit and entertainment,” Pacelle added. “We’ll only see these practices end when there’s consistent enforcement and clear consequences for every participant in these illegal spectacles.”
Animal Wellness Action is advocating continued aggressive enforcement and passage of federal legislation to dismantle cockfighting networks permanently. The federal Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, H.R. 3946 and S. 1454, would strengthen penalties for animal fighting, enhance federal enforcement tools, and target the organized criminal enterprises behind these operations. The bill is supported by both the National Sheriffs Association and the Indiana Sheriffs Association along with more than 450 other law enforcement agencies and nearly 1,100 endorsing agencies and organizations.
Animal Wellness Action offers rewards for people reporting dogfighting or cockfighting. Tips can be sent to tips@animalwellnessaction.org.