BOSTON – A Hanson, Mass. man was sentenced as we speak in federal court docket in Boston for possessing canines at his Massachusetts dwelling for participation in a dogfighting enterprise.
John D. Murphy, 51, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court docket Decide William G. Younger to 1 12 months and someday in jail, with the final three months to be served in group confinement, adopted by three years of supervised launch. The defendant was additionally ordered to pay a positive of $10,000 and ordered prohibited from possessing pit-bull kind canines. In November 2024, Murphy pleaded responsible to 9 counts of possessing animals to be used in an animal combating enterprise, in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Murphy was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.
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“Canine combating is a brutal and inhumane type of leisure and is related to different organized prison exercise, together with unlawful playing,” stated Appearing Assistant Legal professional Basic Adam Gustafson of the Justice Division’s Setting and Pure Assets Division (ENRD). “We’re dedicated to holding violators accountable. We commend the collaboration between federal and a number of state and native legislation enforcement businesses in investigating and prosecuting this case.”
“The Workplace of Inspector Basic is dedicated to working with all of our legislation enforcement and prosecutorial companions in pursuing people who select to take part in animal combating actions and interact in violations involving animal welfare,” stated Charmeka Parker, Particular Agent in Cost of the U.S. Division of Agriculture – Workplace of Inspector Basic, Northeast Area.
In 2021, Murphy was recognized discussing dogfighting on recorded calls with a New York-based dogfighting goal. A subsequent search of his Fb accounts revealed Murphy’s years-long involvement in dogfighting. Murphy communicated with different dogfighters by way of Fb the place they mentioned the outcomes of dogfights, accidents sustained by combating canines, in addition to breeding canines. Murphy additionally belonged to non-public dogfighting Fb teams used to share battle outcomes, purchase and promote combating canines and alternate data on coaching and conditioning combating canines, amongst different issues.
Photographs and movies discovered on Murphy’s Fb account confirmed a pit bull-type canine with scarring and discolorations on its head and leg in line with that of dogfighting in addition to a photograph of a pit bull-type canine restrained in a breeding stand. Movies from his account confirmed pit bull-type canines bodily tethered to completely different treadmill-like gadgets that dogfighters generally use to bodily situation canines for dogfights. One of many movies depicted a stay raccoon caged in entrance of the carpet mill, to function a stimulus for the pit bull-type canine to run quicker and more durable.
In June 2023, a search of Murphy’s residence in Hanson revealed that he was holding 9 pit bull-type canines at his dwelling. A number of of the canines had scarring in line with being concerned in organized dogfighting.
Animal combating paraphernalia was additionally discovered throughout the search of Murphy’s residence, together with:
- Flirt poles, used to entice a canine to chase a stimulus;
- Spring poles, used to construct a canine’s jaw power and enhance aggression;
- A number of treadmills, slat mills and carpet mills, used to situation canines to construct stamina and muscle;
- A jenny mill, used to develop a canine’s endurance and musculature by attractive the animal to run on a round observe;
- Rabbit coaching scent for canines;
- Break sticks, used to pressure a canine’s chew open, particularly on the termination of a battle or whereas coaching;
- A canine chew sleeve;
- Disposable pores and skin staplers, used to aim to shut wounds ensuing from dogfights;
- A number of forms of steroids and painkillers;
- Fertility drugs and a breeding stand, used to restrain feminine canines throughout breeding;
- Printouts of combating canine pedigrees; and
- Canine combating literature, DVDs and CD-ROMs.
A forensic examination of Murphy’s cellphone revealed vital further proof of his involvement in dogfighting. This included a number of canine combating movies and WhatsApp messages between Murphy and different people discussing components of canine combating. In one of many messages, Murphy expressed his anger over having animal management referred to as to his property and the 25 years he invested in breeding and conditioning canines, and asserting that he’ll “by no means by no means by no means” give up what he’s doing with the canines.
In March 2024, the US additionally filed a civil forfeiture criticism in opposition to 13 pit bull-type canines, seized in June 2023 from Murphy’s residence and one other residence in Townsend, Mass., that had been possessed for participation in an animal combating enterprise. In September and October 2024, the Court docket ordered the canines to be forfeited to the US.
To report animal combating crimes, please contact your native legislation enforcement or the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s Workplace of Inspector Basic criticism hotline at: https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.
U.S. Legal professional Foley; ENRD Appearing AAG Gustafson; USDA-OIG SAC Parker; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Karen L. LoStracco, Director of the Animal Rescue League of Boston – Regulation Enforcement Division made the announcement. Helpful help was supplied by Homeland Safety Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Safety; U.S. Marshal’s Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Maine State Police; New Hampshire State Police; Massachusetts Workplace of the State Auditor; Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and the Hanson, Boston and Acton Police Departments.
“The Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Regulation Enforcement Division is comprised of Particular Massachusetts State Police Officers who implement the animal cruelty and neglect legal guidelines of the state. Along with conducting our personal investigations, our division works with native, state and federal companions frequently, offering experience, coaching and sources for animal cruelty and neglect investigations,” Acknowledged ARL Regulation Enforcement Director Karen LoStracco. “These partnerships are very important to making sure the safety of animals by way of decreasing duplicative efforts, eliminating gaps in enforcement and standing collectively for animal welfare and advocacy. We recognize the perseverance of the USDA OIG’s workplace in pursuing canine combating investigations and prices beneath the federal Animal Welfare Act and we worth the robust working relationship we’ve got established. Canine combating is an particularly brutal and inhumane act and we’re grateful to be referred to as upon for our experience and sources in defending the welfare and security of those animals.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danial E. Bennett and Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Department Workplace and Trial Legal professional Matthew T. Morris of the Justice Division’s Setting and Pure Assets Division (ENRD), Environmental Crimes Part, prosecuted the case. Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Restoration Unit for the District of Massachusetts and Trial Legal professional Caitlyn F. Prepare dinner of ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Assets Part are prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.
