The 14 defendants convicted in a large-scale federal dogfighting case in Albany have been sentenced to a total of more than 28 years in prison.
Defendants from Georgia, Florida, and Alabama were arrested following a large-scale dogfighting event that took place in Donaldsonville in 2022, according to court records. Police responding to a 911 call rescued 27 dogs, including one found in a blood-soaked fighting pit with severe injuries, who soon died.
Authorities also seized a large quantity of methamphetamine.
Seized cellphones contained evidence of the participants’ extensive involvement in the dogfighting industry. Law enforcement personnel seized and rescued 78 pit bull-type dogs, including 51 recovered during search warrants executed this spring.
“The brutality of dogfighting, combined with armed drug distribution, negatively affects our community,” said C. Shanelle Booker, acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “The collaboration among law enforcement agencies at every level during this investigation and prosecution was essential in bringing these defendants to justice and rescuing abused animals.”
The longest prison term in the case went to Donnametric Miller of Donaldson, who was sentenced to 100 months behind bars on Thursday. Nine others received shorter prison terms, two received credit for time served, and two were sentenced to home confinement.
In addition to the prison sentences, the court also ordered the payment of restitution for the costs of caring for the dogs rescued during the investigation.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General worked on the case with detectives from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. The Bay County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office also provided assistance.
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Before You Dismiss This Article…
We live in a time when information feels overwhelming, but here’s what hasn’t changed: facts exist whether they comfort us or not.
When A&W launched their third-pound burger to compete with McDonald’s Quarter Pounder in the 1980s, it failed spectacularly. Not because it tasted worse, but because customers thought 1/3 was smaller than 1/4. If basic math can trip us up, imagine how easily we can misread complex news.
The press isn’t against you when it reports something you don’t want to hear. Reporters are thermometers, not the fever itself. They’re telling you what verified sources are saying, not taking sides. Good reporting should challenge you — that’s literally the job.
Next time a story makes you angry, pause. Ask yourself: What evidence backs this up? Am I reacting with my brain or my gut? What would actually change my mind? And most importantly, am I assuming bias just because the story doesn’t match what I hoped to hear.
Smart readers choose verified information over their own comfort zone.
Dave Williams | Capitol Beat News Service
Dave Williams is the Bureau Chief for Capitol Beat News Service. He is a veteran reporter who has reported on Georgia state government and politics since 1999. Before that, he covered Georgia’s congressional delegation in Washington, D.C.
