James Lampkin, Animal Welfare Act Violation, Georgia 2024

AUGUSTA, GA: James Lampkin, a/k/a ‘Pookie,’ 46, of Eastman, Ga., has admitted guilt to federal charges in connection with a dog-fighting ring broken up in 2018 in Dodge County.

Lampkin, the operator of the dog-fighting facility, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Welfare Act, said David H. Estes, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

The plea subjects Lampkin to a statutory sentence of up to five years in prison, along with substantial fines and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term.

‘Animal fighting is cruel and barbaric, and has no place in our society – and it is particularly unwelcome in the Southern District of Georgia,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Estes.

Five of Lampkin’s co-defendants – Benjamin Shinhoster III, 41, of Augusta; Deveon Hood, 34, of Tennille, Ga.; Andre Archer, 23, of Sandersville, Ga.; Xavier Simmons, 34, of Sandersville, Ga.; and Joe Ford, 33, of Elgin, S.C. – also await sentencing in federal court after pleading guilty to related felony charges.

The remaining co-defendant, Dwight McDuffie, 44, of Eastman, Ga., pled guilty to Attending an Animal Fighting Venture, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to two years of probation, 150 hours of community service, and prohibited from owning animals.

In March 2018, Georgia State Patrol troopers and Georgia Department of Natural Resources game wardens conducted traffic stops in Eastman after receiving reports of a dog-fighting operation at Lampkin’s property.

During those traffic stops, officers discovered a dog in one of the vehicles that appeared to have been injured while fighting. Investigators later seized 63 dogs at Lampkin’s residence while serving a search warrant after finding the animals chained in the back yard.

Investigators also discovered a disassembled pit where fights were held, and equipment used to train dogs for fighting.

The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Rock and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro V. Pascual IV.

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