Antonio Damon Atkins, Dogfighting, Louisiana 2017

Grimy Times Staff

A Louisiana man has been brought to justice for his part in a conspiracy to sponsor, exhibit, possess and transport animals in an interstate animal fighting venture, and to possessing an animal in such a venture, all in violation of the Animal Welfare Act.

Antonio Damon Atkins, 35, of Baton Rouge, pleaded guilty today for his role in the interstate dogfighting ring, which was originally uncovered through an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation.

Atkins conspired with others to keep, breed, train and fight pitbull dogs, and discussed many facets of their plans in telephone calls obtained via court-authorized wiretaps. The calls included discussions on preparation, the kinds of dogs they wanted to acquire, and even using 'rape boxes' to restrain female dogs for breeding.

When dogs suffered injuries during training or fights, Atkins and his co-conspirators performed do-it-yourself veterinary care to avoid the attention that professional veterinary care might bring. The conspirators maintained several properties in furtherance of their dogfighting operation, and agents found and seized 89 pitbulls, including puppies, at seven properties.

Atkins is the sixth defendant to plead guilty in this case, following in the footsteps of five other defendants who have already been convicted and sentenced. The sentences handed down include:

Eric 'EZ' Williams, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 60 months' imprisonment

Corey Brown, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 50 months' imprisonment

Clay Turner, Loranger, Louisiana: 36 months' imprisonment

Dangelo Dontae Cornish, Greensburg, Louisiana: 16 months' imprisonment

Aquintas Kantrell Singleton, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 12 months and one day's imprisonment

A sixth defendant, David Guidry III, of Independence, Louisiana, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 6, 2023.

Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division stated, 'Dog fighting is a crime that cruelly forces animals into a cycle of violence and death for personal gratification or profit.'

The FBI and its partners are committed to protecting the American people and holding those accountable who engage in such blood sport.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/louisiana-man-pleads-guilty-dogfighting-conspiracy