Five Middle Georgia men sentenced in dog-fighting operation tied to drug trafficking

Federal sentences handed down for conspiracy involving dog fighting and drug trafficking in Laurens and surrounding counties

DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Five Middle Georgia men have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a large-scale dog-fighting operation linked to a drug trafficking conspiracy, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

The 96 dogs rescued during the investigation were found in searches related to a drug trafficking conspiracy in Laurens, Treutlen, Johnson, and Emanuel counties.

“As this investigation shows, animal fighting operations often occur in conjunction with other illegal activity,” Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, said. “In this case, holding these defendants accountable protects the welfare of these rescued animals while also removing dangerous drugs from the community.”

The five defendants, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the animal welfare act, were sentenced in U.S. District Court as follows:

• 43-year-old Travis Martin, a.k.a. “Fat,” of Wrightsville, received 24 months in prison and a $1,000 fine. This sentence is consecutive to the 200-month sentence Martin is serving as the leader of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
• 41-year-old Sentell Carey, of Wrightsville, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $2,000. Carey is also serving a probation sentence in the drug trafficking conspiracy.
• 42-yera-old Dennis Wilcher, a.k.a. “Buck,” of Wrightsville, received 30 months in prison and a $3,000 fine.
• 28-year-old Terry Gilmore, of Sandersville, was sentenced to 23 months in prison and fined $2,500.
• 35-year-old Jonathan Linder, of Rentz, received 20 months in prison and a $2,000 fine.

The defendants are prohibited from owning dogs or engaging in any activity involving dogs and must serve three years of supervised release after their prison terms. There is no parole in the federal system.

The investigation, led by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, resulted in a 27-count federal indictment charging 11 defendants with distributing methamphetamine and heroin. The investigation uncovered large amounts of drugs, cash and firearms.

During the searches, authorities rescued 96 dogs suspected to be part of a dog fighting operation from locations in Johnson, Laurens and Washington counties. The dogs were seized in a civil action brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, and the U.S. Marshals Service arranged for their care and rehabilitation.

“The intentional infliction of pain and suffering on animals for sport is unfathomable,” Special Agent-in-Charge Miles Davis, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), said. “We appreciate the commitment of our law enforcement partners to pursue these individuals who choose to participate in these heinous acts while also committing other severe offenses in our communities.”

The criminal dog fighting prosecution was investigated by the USDA-OIG and lead agent Kelsey Tolomeo, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement agencies, and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica K. Rock. The civil forfeiture of the dogs was coordinated by Southern District of Georgia Civil Division Chief Shannon Heath Statkus.

The drug trafficking case was investigated by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Southeastern Regional Drug Enforcement Office, the Emanuel County Sheriff’s Office, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and the Ocmulgee Drug Task Force, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer J. Kirkland.