UPDATE: Macon woman pleads guilty in dog-fighting, cocaine trafficking investigation

UPDATE (3/10): A Macon resident pleaded guilty from a investigation into a multi-state dog fighting and cocaine trafficking network.

40-year-old Shelley Johnson aka “Gold Mouth”, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture. She faces a maximum five years followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

According to court documents, law enforcement investigated a criminal organization involved in both cocaine distribution and organized dog fighting based out of Roberta, which extended into North Georgia, Florida and Alabama from May 2019 until Feb. 2020.

In Feb. 2020, law enforcement executed search warrants and seized more than 150 dogs being used for organized dog-fighting. 11 people were charged with various criminal activities. Three others, including Johnson, were charged by criminal information.

During the investigation, Johnson communicated with co-conspirator Jarvis Lockett about fighting and breeding dogs, dogs mauled and killed as a result of fighting, sharpening a dog’s teeth for fighting purposes, cash prizes for fights, and various topics detailing the business and the brutality of dog-fighting.

Johnson attended a dog fight and participated as a handler inside the ring during the dog fight. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at her Macon home, recovering 13 pit bull terrier type dogs with scarring consistent with dog-fighting. In addition, agents found evidence of dog fighting activities including a digital scale, weighted collars, heavy chains, ground stakes and a variety of medical supplies to treat animals for injuries sustained from dog fighting activities.

Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for June 7.

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WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) —Two Georgia residents, one from Warner Robins, was convicted today on dog-fighting and drug distribution charges resulting from an investigation into a significant multi-state dog-fighting and cocaine trafficking ring.

41-year-old Jarvis Lockett, was sentenced to serve 10 years behind bars, followed by three years of probation, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture and cocaine distribution.

According to court documents, law enforcement investigated a criminal organization involved in both cocaine distribution and organized dog-fighting based out of Roberta, which extended into North Georgia, Florida and Alabama from May 2019 until February 2020. In February 2020, law enforcement executed 15 search warrants and seized more than 150 dogs being used for dog-fighting.

During this time, Lockett attended and had his dogs participate in dog fights in Florida and Macon, where he also acted as a referee. In addition, he attended, participated and/or attempted to participate in dog fights in Taylor County,  Eastman, and Shiloh, where Lockett received $16,000 for his winning dog.

Text messages obtained on Lockett’s cell phone detailed his dog-fighting ventures, including killing an unaggressive dog, planning a dog fight and soliciting a female dog for fighting for $10,000.

Additional text messages discussed the purchases of large quantities of cocaine and spending $250,000 on narcotics. A confidential informant (CI) purchased cocaine from Lockett at a Roberta home two separate occasions in 2019.

In February of 2020, law enforcement searched the Roberta home recovering cash, cocaine and evidence of dog-fighting activities. 14 dogs were recovered. The dogs had scarring consistent with dogs being used for dog-fighting activities.

On the same day, after searching a Warner Robins home Lockett owned, law enforcement found a pit bull that was extremely injured and lethargic. The injuries had been stapled shut. The dog died two days later of his injuries.

Agents found other evidence of dog-fighting activity including medicine and supplies to treat animals for injuries sustained from dog-fighting activities, a notepad containing dog names and dollar amounts, a 50-pound digital scale, paperwork from a veterinary clinic, a blender with dog food and medicine, dog breeding registration certificates and several bags of cash.