Clay Turner, Possession of Animal for Dog Fighting, Louisiana 2023

A 61-year-old man from Loranger, Louisiana, has pleaded guilty to possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture.

Clay Turner, 61, of Loranger, pleaded guilty yesterday to possession of an animal for use in an animal fighting venture.

Beginning as early as June 22, 2017, Turner possessed and trained dogs for the purpose of having them participate in animal fighting ventures, according to court documents.

Telephone calls obtained via court-authorized wiretaps revealed Turner and others discussing gambling on dog fights, arranging and participating in dog fights, sponsoring and exhibiting dogs in dog fights, training and housing dogs for the purposes of dog fighting, commerce in and transport of fighting dogs and the promotion of dog fights.

Prosecutors also stated that Turner told others he would give the dogs ‘dex’, referring to Dexamethasone—a substance that causes bowel evacuation—to achieve proper weight for the dog fights.

On or about Oct. 24, 2017, a federal law enforcement team consisting of agents from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service and other agencies, executed a search warrant on Turner’s residence in Loranger.

During the search, 33 dogs were found on the property, many of which had injuries, scarring, and/or wounding consistent with dog fighting activities. Law enforcement also recovered a large collection of dog fighting paraphernalia.

Turner is scheduled to be sentenced on September 28 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

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