Norman Dixson, Dogfighting, Georgia 2023

⏱ 2 min read

Norman Dixson, a convicted drug dealer from Griffin, Georgia, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for promoting dogfighting. Dixson, who fraudulently obtained federal pandemic relief money to fund his lifestyle, was found guilty of breeding, training, and abusing dogs in horrific conditions for his own entertainment and monetary gain. The sentence was handed down in Newnan, Georgia, where Dixson’s crimes were investigated by the USDA and the US Department of Labor.

Dixson’s crimes were particularly egregious, as he exploited federal relief programs meant for people in genuine need, stealing taxpayer-funded relief to support his dogfighting operation. The USDA Inspector General, John Walk, condemned Dixson’s actions, stating that dogfighting is ‘grossly inhuman’ and ‘against the law’.

The investigation, led by acting Special Agent in Charge Nathan Unger, revealed that Dixson had defrauded the Indiana Department of Workforce Development by filing for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits he knew he was not entitled to receive. This was just one part of a larger pattern of exploitation and abuse, as Dixson used the funds to support his dogfighting operation.

The sentence is a significant victory for animal welfare advocates and law enforcement agencies, who have been working tirelessly to combat dogfighting and other forms of animal cruelty. As U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated, ‘Dogfighting has no place in civilized society. Depraved individuals who abuse animals for profit should take notice: we will aggressively prosecute these offenses and ensure the perpetrators are sent to prison’.