Georgia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Court for Dog Fighting, Drug Trafficking, and Firearms Charges

(Washington = Alex Walczak) Dun Terrius Bradford of Sale City, Georgia, received a 10-year federal prison sentence for orchestrating illegal dog fighting operations, manufacturing and distributing cocaine base, and possessing firearms in connection with these crimes. This marks the nation’s first federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting.

In a landmark ruling, Dun Terrius Bradford was sentenced to 120 months in prison by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. The court also imposed five years of supervised release and a $6,900 fine. Bradford was convicted on 69 counts of illegally possessing dogs for fighting purposes, one count of manufacturing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base, and one count of possessing firearms to further these offenses.

Authorities rescued 67 pit bull-type dogs from Bradford’s Sale City residence, marking the third-largest federal dog rescue in U.S. history. Investigators uncovered brutal training tools including blood-stained treadmills modified to restrain dogs, injectable veterinary steroids, a homemade breeding stand to immobilize aggressive female dogs, a cattle shock prod with dog DNA, and a large cement water tank used to force dogs to swim as part of their conditioning.

Federal agents also seized cocaine base, the containers used for its production, and four firearms. Under federal law, dog fighting and related activities such as owning, training, transporting, or selling fighting dogs are illegal, especially when they affect interstate commerce.

Adam Gustafson, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division, emphasized the organized crime nature of dog fighting, stating, “Dog fighting is organized crime, and it’s a magnet for other criminal activity, as this case demonstrates. Americans detest animal cruelty and the illegal drugs and guns that come with it. The Department of Justice is fighting to get these criminal elements out of our neighborhoods.”

U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia added, “Dog fighting is a grave act of animal cruelty that breeds crime and depravity, bringing illegal drugs, firearms, and violence into our communities. This first-ever federal conviction for possessing firearms in furtherance of dog fighting demonstrates our commitment to dismantling these criminal organizations and protecting both animals and communities.”

John Walk, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), highlighted the investigation’s exposure of a dangerous criminal operation that inflicted horrific abuse on animals while serving as a hub for narcotics and firearms violations. He praised the collaboration between USDA investigators, law enforcement, and prosecutors.

Acting U.S. Marshal Joseph “Joe” Chapman noted the success of multi-agency cooperation in rescuing the dogs and vowed continued support for bringing dog fighting perpetrators to justice and ensuring rescued animals receive proper care.

The investigation began as a joint effort between the USDA Office of Inspector General and the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service. Prosecutors Leah McEwen and Ethan Eddy led the criminal case, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morrill and paralegal Kristi Cote handled civil forfeiture proceedings to prevent the dogs’ return to Bradford.

The rescued dogs are currently under the care of the U.S. Marshals Service’s Seized Canine Program pending legal resolution.

This case underscores the federal government’s commitment to aggressively combatting animal cruelty and its links to broader criminal enterprises involving drugs and firearms.