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Dog Fights, Guns, and Drugs: Georgia Man’s Downfall
A notorious dog-fighting breeder and trainer in Southwest Georgia has been convicted of dozens of federal animal welfare charges, as well as possessing guns and manufacturing drugs. Dun Bradford, of Sale City, Georgia, was found guilty of 69 counts, including 67 counts of possessing a dog for use in an animal fighting venture, one count of manufacture of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime.
The verdict was handed down on December 16, following a two-day trial that began on December 15, before Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner. Bradford faces a maximum of life in prison. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
The case began with a citizen complaint of animal tethering and neglect at a 17-acre property owned by Bradford in Sale City. Officers from the Mitchell County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office and Code Enforcement Office responded to the complaint and discovered many pit bull-type dogs on heavy chains outside the residence, with some exhibiting aggression toward one another.
Agents and animal experts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) were called, and search warrants were obtained and executed on the property. The agents rescued 67 dogs on chains, many without food, water, or shelter. Many of the dogs had recent injuries and scars consistent with dog fighting, including one with severe, recent fighting wounds.
A shed on the property held a large amount of dog fighting equipment, including veterinary drugs and devices, anabolic horse steroids, a ‘breeding stand’ used to forcibly breed dogs, training and execution items, and paper pedigrees documenting the fighting history of the dogs. Evidence presented at trial showed Bradford’s home was an area used for a long time to breed and train dogs for fighting.
U.S. Attorney William R. ‘Will’ Keyes praised the concerned citizen who reported the abused dogs, whose tip ended a long-standing criminal operation gravely harming animals and the entire community. The case was investigated by the USDA, USMS, and the Mitchell County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office and Code Enforcement Office, with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI).
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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