SPRING HILL, FL – Jose Miguel Carrillo, a resident of Spring Hill, Florida, will spend the next seven years in federal prison after being sentenced to 84 months for his role in a brutal, interstate dog fighting ring. Carrillo, 42, pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate federal animal welfare laws and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The case exposes a dark underbelly of animal cruelty fueled by gambling and callous disregard for life.
Federal prosecutors detailed how Carrillo conspired with accomplices to purchase, breed, and train pit bull-type dogs specifically for fighting. The operation wasn’t confined to Florida; Carrillo actively traveled to dog fights in Massachusetts and Connecticut, expanding the reach of his criminal enterprise. Court filings reveal Carrillo hosted fights at his own home, turning his property into a scene of unimaginable suffering for the animals involved.
A June 2023 raid on Carrillo’s residence uncovered a disturbing array of evidence. Authorities seized ten pit bull-type dogs, many of whom were ultimately rescued and placed in new homes. But the search also revealed the tools of a horrifying trade: a bloodstained dog fighting box, a skin stapler used to crudely treat injuries sustained during fights, syringes filled with performance-enhancing drugs, and various veterinary medications used to keep the dogs fighting despite severe injuries.
“To its core, dog fighting is a cruel and criminal exploitation of animals for entertainment,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Today’s sentence sends a strong deterrent message that the Justice Department will vigorously prosecute these cases.” Acting U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney for the Middle District of Florida added, “Exploiting and endangering the welfare of animals for personal gain is cruel and abhorrent. Because of the hard work of our law enforcement partners, justice was served.”
The investigation, a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG), and local law enforcement in Pasco County, Florida, and Fitchburg, Massachusetts, also revealed Carrillo illegally possessed a firearm and ammunition despite his prior felony conviction. Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the USDA-OIG emphasized the agency’s commitment to pursuing individuals involved in animal fighting and related criminal activities.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Favorit and Tiffany Fields. Authorities urge anyone with information about animal fighting to contact their local law enforcement or the USDA-OIG complaint hotline at usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121. The investigation also received assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, New Hampshire State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
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