BALTIMORE (WUSA9) -- Twenty two people have been indicted for their roles in a Baltimore-based dogfighting ring, according to the Office of the State's Attorney for Baltimore City. Authorities say hundreds of dogs were forced to fight in the ring.
A Baltimore grand jury returned indictments against 22 people, 14 of whom are in custody, on Monday. They are charged with animal cruelty, dog fighting and conspiracy following a year-long investigation and raids at more than a dozen locations in the Baltimore area and a compound in West Virginia. Seventeen of the people indicted have criminal histories.
The defendants in custody are:
- Daryl Addison, 38, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as four counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting, four counts of animal abuse and neglect, and other related charges.
- Omar Alfarouq, 76, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as sixteen counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting, eighteen counts of animal abuse and neglect, and other related charges.
- Anthony Banks, 37, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy.
- Dion Brown, 29, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as seven counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting and fourteen counts of animal abuse and neglect.
- Raymond Casey, 37, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as five counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting and eight counts of animal abuse and neglect.
- Larry Gardner, 34, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as four counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting, four counts of animal abuse and neglect, and other related charges.
- Rodney Greene, 38, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as eleven counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting and twelve counts of animal abuse and neglect.
- Jovon Lee, 41, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy.
- Clifton McCray, 39, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as eight counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting, seventeen counts of animal abuse and neglect, and other related charges.
- Craig McLaurin, 43, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy.
- William Murray, III, 26, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as five counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting and six counts of animal abuse and neglect.
- William Murray, Jr., 47, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy.
- Brandon Parker, 24, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as two counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting, three counts of animal abuse and neglect, and other related charges.
- Kenneth Rice, 54, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as seven counts of animal abuse andneglect, and other related charges.
- James Roles, 45, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as one count of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting.
- Antonio Ruffin, 47, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, and other related charges.
- Tavon Sol, 23, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as eleven counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting, thirteen counts of animal abuse and neglect, and other related charges.
- Daryl Solomon, 40, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as four counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting and four counts of animal abuse and neglect.
- Donald Wallace, 37, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as twelve counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting, twelve counts of animal abuse and neglect, and other related charges.
- Terry White, 38, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as four counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting, three counts of animal abuse and neglect, and other related charges.
- Tyrone Wolfe, 41, is charged with the dogfighting conspiracy, as well as three counts of aggravated cruelty related to dogfighting, four counts of animal abuse and neglect, and other related charges.
According to officials at Baltimore State's Attorney's Office, the conspiracy dates back to April 2013, when alleged members of the Baltimore ring were connected to a dogfighting bust in North Carolina.
"The charging documents allege that from the summer of 2013 through the time of indictment, some 139 dogs, mostly pitbulls and including 28 puppies, were recovered from individuals implicated in the indictment along with a dozen firearms, numerous treadmills, breaking sticks, heavy chains, conditioning harnesses, steroids, topical and injectable medications meant to be administered by licensed professionals, bloodstained dogfighting rings, surgical equipment, and breeding stands (referred to by dogfighters, according to the indictments, as "rape stands"), which were used to facilitate the breeding, training, and fighting of dogs," wrote officials at Baltimore State's Attorney's Office.
Officials added, "In addition to the arrests of the defendants this week, seventeen search and seizure warrants — fourteen in Baltimore City, two in Baltimore County, and one in West Virginia—were executed in which weapons and instrumentalities of the dogfighting ring were recovered including 8 firearms and 86 additional dogs, all pitbulls and nearly two dozen puppies. Five treadmills, two 'rape stands,' heavy chains, conditioning harnesses, and surgical equipment — along with a marijuana grow operation and over $70,000 in cash — were also found during the police raids."
Authorities say the ring also has links to New York.
