Georgia drug and dogfighting ring used 120 dogs, wanted to charge spectators $150, feds say
An alleged drug and dogfighting ring involving upward of 120 dogs, an operation in which two participants were said to have spoken of charging spectators $150 to view a dog fight in rural west Georgia, was busted by the authorities nearly a year ago.
Earlier this month, a federal grand jury indicted five men — including one from Warner Robins and another from Fort Valley — in connection with the dogfighting allegations.
Six other people — not accused of dogfighting but rather of charges that include drug conspiracy, possession and distribution — were also named in the 136-count indictment that was unsealed Thursday.
The alleged crimes span nine months, from mid-2019 until February 2020, and prosecutors say the drug operation distributed more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.
Those who face dogfighting charges include:
Jarvis “J-Rock” Lockett, 40, of Warner Robins; Armard “Black Jack” Davis, 41, of Fort Valley; Derrick “Doomie” Owens, 37, of Woodland; Christopher “Binky” Raines, 50, of Talbotton, and Rodrick “Rodrie” Walton, 40, of Shiloh.
According to the indictment, in mid-January 2020, Walton discussed with Owens how Walton had “built a wall to keep his neighbors from seeing what is going on in his yard.”
The indictment went on to allege that “Walton stated that he would charge ... $150 per person that wanted to come watch.”
The exact location of some of the fights was unclear, though Walton’s residence lies northeast of Columbus near Warm Springs.
The indictment also mentions that “some of the co-conspirators” attended a fight in Dodge County.