Wilcox County man gets 37 months in federal prison in dogfighting case
Bernard Wallace pleaded guilty to 40 counts of possessing dogs for an animal-fighting venture.
DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A Wilcox County man has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to 40 counts related to a dog-fighting operation.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia announced Tuesday that 54-year-old Bernard Wallace of Rochelle was convicted of 40 counts of possessing a dog for the purposes of an animal-fighting venture.
U.S. District Judge Dudley H. Bowen also ordered Wallace to pay a $4,000 fine and serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and testimony, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Wallace in September 2022 after receiving several reports of animal cruelty in Knoxville.
Investigators found 35 dogs chained without access to food or water. Prosecutors say most of the dogs lacked adequate shelter and were malnourished.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office began receiving similar complaints in October 2024 involving a property in Wrightsville.
Investigators determined Wallace owned the property and was the subject of the earlier complaints in Crawford County.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General joined the investigation. Federal prosecutors say investigators found dogs tied to trees and barrels without proper access to food or water. Investigators also determined Wallace used Facebook to sell the dogs.
Federal agents and local deputies searched the Wrightsville property in December 2024. Prosecutors say they found dogs chained in conditions that encouraged aggression as well as equipment used to breed the animals and train them to fight.
Wallace was arrested in Johnson County on December 8, 2024.
USDA Inspector General John Walk said investigators rescued 40 dogs.
“Dogfighting is violent and inhumane, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture OIG will continue to pursue those who commit this heinous crime,” Walk said. “I commend our USDA OIG special agents, the U.S. Attorney’s office, and law enforcement partners who brought this defendant to justice and rescued 40 dogs from ongoing cruelty.”
The FBI, USDA Office of Inspector General, U.S. Marshals Service, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and Animal Control and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
