(Beth Clifton collage)
Bust may help to push the “Fighting Inhumane Gambling & High-Risk Trafficking Act,” or “FIGHT Act,” to passage
WASHINGTON, D.C.––Political dogfighting over the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and who might succeed him quickly pushed from the headlines the dogfighting bust in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, involving the most prominent person since the Michael Vick bust of April 2007.
One of the two arrestees, Frederick Douglass Moorefield, Jr., age 62, of Arnold, Maryland, was already known to much of the Washington D.C. media corps as Deputy Chief Information Officer for Command, Control, and Communications, for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
(U.S. Department of Justice photo)
Serious deficiencies in Pentagon security screening
Also lost in the noise from the political dogfighting was a brief burst of media attention occasioned by the Moorefield arrest to the “Fighting Inhumane Gambling & High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act,” introduced to reinforce federal legislation against both dogfighting and cockfighting.
The FIGHT Act, Senate Bill 1529 and House Resolution 2742, currently has nine Senate co-sponsors, including six Democrats, two Republicans, and one independent, and 73 House co-sponsors, including 45 Democrats and 28 Republicans.
That gives the FIGHT Act a fighting chance to be added as an amendment to the current edition of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food & Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024, better known as the Farm Bill.
After the political bloodshed ends, which may take a while, the Anne Arundel County dogfighting bust is likely to be back in the news, not least because the arrest of Moorefield indicates serious deficiencies in high-level Pentagon security screening.
“Why jeopardize your career?”
“I think this could be the next most important dog fighting case with this very high-profile individual involved,” Animal Wellness Action president Wayne Pacelle told Lili Zheng of the Fox 5 D.C. digital team.
“The Vick case was so startling,” Pacelle explained, “because people wondered why a National Football League quarterback, the highest paid player in the NFL, would take the risk of being involved in dog fighting. You have to ask the same question with a senior official at the Pentagon. Why jeopardize your career?”
$1 million allocated to combat animal fighting
Added Pacelle to Zheng, “Just last week,” on September 26, 2023, to be precise, “we won an amendment on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to provide $1 million for active enforcement of our animal fighting laws,” through a unanimously adopted Farm Bill amendment presented by Congressional Representatives Joe Neguse, a Democrat from Colorado, and Vern Buchanan, a Republican from Florida.
“If law enforcement wants to crack down on crime in our communities,” Pacelle continued, cockfighting and dogfighting pits “are venues where clusters of people committing a wide range of crimes gather.”
However, Pacelle mentioned, “There have been no federal cases [against either cockfighting or dogfighting] in entire jurisdictions, including Guam, Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Puerto Rico, despite Animal Wellness Action investigations that have exposed extensive networks of animal fighting operations.”
Plugged the FIGHT Act
Pacelle also plugged the FIGHT Act to Zheng.
Amending Section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act, the FIGHT Act would ban simulcasting and online gambling on animal fighting; halt the transport of mature roosters through the U.S. mail––“It is already illegal to ship dogs through the mail,” Pacelle noted––and allow private citizens, “after proper notice to federal authorities,” Pacelle mentioned, to initiate court cases against illegal animal fighters, as is often done to advance pollution complaints.
The FIGHT Act would also “enhance forfeiture provisions to include [seizure of] real property for animal fighting crimes,” Pacelle said.
“Promoting & furthering an animal fighting venture”
Frederick Douglass Moorefield, Jr. and Mario Damon Flythe, age 49, of Glen Burnie, Maryland, were on October 2, 2023 charged with “promoting and furthering an animal fighting venture” by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
“According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint,” a U.S. Attorney’s Office media release detailed, “Moorefield and Flythe used an encrypted messaging application,” called Telegram, “to communicate with individuals throughout the United States to discuss dogfighting.
“Moorefield used the name Geehad Kennels and Flythe used the name Razor Sharp Kennels to identify their respective dogfighting operations.
(Beth Clifton collage)
Encrypted messages
“For example, as detailed in the affidavit,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office media release said, “Moorefield, Flythe and their associates used the encrypted messaging application to discuss how to train dogs for illegal dogfighting, exchanged videos about dogfighting, and arranged and coordinated dogfights.
“Moorefield and Flythe also discussed betting on dogfighting, discussed dogs who died as a result of dogfighting, and circulated media reports about dogfighters who had been caught by law enforcement.
“As further alleged in the affidavit,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office media release added, “Moorefield and others also discussed how to conceal their conduct from law enforcement.”
on it, according to the criminal complaint.
(Department of Justice photo)
Weighted dog vest
The alleged dogfighting ring imploded, the U.S. Attorney’s Office media release recounted, when “On September 6, 2023, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Moorefield and Flythe’s residences in Maryland.
“Following the execution of these warrants, twelve dogs,” all pit bulls, “were recovered and seized by the federal government. Law enforcement also recovered veterinary steroids, training schedules, a carpet that appeared to be stained with blood, and a weighted dog vest with a patch reading ‘Geehad Kennels’”
The name “Geehad,” possibly meant to be pronounced “jihad,” means in Arabic “a struggle or fight against the enemies of Islam.”
Islam, ironically, prohibits animal fighting of any kind.
(See What does the Taliban mean for animals in Afghanistan?)
Electrocuted losers
“In addition,” U.S. Attorney’s Office media release continued, “law enforcement officers seized a device consisting of an electrical plug and jumper cables, which the affidavit alleges is consistent with devices used to execute dogs that lose dogfights.”
“According to court documents,” wrote Jenny Gross for The New York Times, “Anne Arundel County Animal Control responded in November 2018 to a report of two dead dogs found with wounds and scarring patterns consistent with dogfighting in a plastic bag about six miles from Mr. Moorefield’s house. The bag also contained mail addressed to Mr. Moorefield.
“The Pentagon said in a statement,” Gross added, “that it was aware of the criminal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.”
(Beth Clifton collage)
“Cannot comment on personnel matter”
Said U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Tim Gorman, speaking for the Department of Defense, “We can confirm that the individual [Moorefield] is no longer in the workplace, but we cannot comment further on an individual personnel matter.”
Baltimore Banner reporter Hugo Kugiya contributed that, “According to Moorefield’s LinkedIn biography, he had served in his most recent position at the Pentagon since March 2020.
“He previously served as acting deputy director to the chief information officer for command, control, communications and computers and information infrastructure capabilities in Arlington, Virginia.
Master’s degree in electrical engineering
“He listed himself as a director of spectrum policy and international engagements from 2012 to the present, and as director of strategic planning at the Air Force Spectrum Management Office at Fort Meade from 2008 to 2012.
“Moorefield holds a master’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of Dayton and a bachelor’s in mathematics from Wilberforce University, his LinkedIn profile states.”
The Washington D.C. news radio station WTOP reported that it had learned that U.S. Air Force officer Kevin Mulvihill had been appointed Pentagon deputy chief information officer, to succeed Moorefield, on an acting basis.
Rolling over in the clover
Added Washington Post reporters Tom Jackman and Dan Lamothe, “An affidavit written by FBI Special Agent Ryan C. Daly indicated that authorities have been investigating the dogfighting ring, which called itself ‘the DMV Board,’ for years. Nine fellow dog-fighters were indicted in Virginia last year, and eight have pleaded guilty and cooperated with investigators.”
Several recent dogfighting busts have come within easy driving distance of Anne Arundel County, Maryland Many of the resulting criminal cases have concluded with plea bargains likely to have resulted in further busts.
(See The biggest dogfighting bust that South Carolina media did not report, Alleged dogfighting busts are back in Michael Vick country, and Big dogfighting busts follow plea bargains by alleged perps in South Carolina.)
“Back home in Indiana”
The dogfighting busts most immediately preceding the arrests of Moorefield and Flythe, however, came in central Indiana .
Said the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Indiana in a September 7, 2023 media release, “Twenty-one individuals were charged in a federal indictment alleging trafficking of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; money laundering; illegally possessing firearms; and dog fighting.
“The charges follow an extensive law enforcement operation in which 18 of the 21 individuals were arrested and federal agents seized over 40 firearms; quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; over $55,000 in cash; and approximately 90 dogs,” believed to all be pit bulls.
Charged with dogfighting
Charged specifically with dogfighting-related offenses were 10 of the suspects: Edward Bronaugh, 57; James Croons, 34; Maurice Ervin, 44; Gregory Henderson Jr., 43; Marvin Johnson Jr., 46; Landon Jones, 39; Christopher Norwalk, 48; Charles Richardson III, 43; Michael Sanders, 45; and Donovan Tipler, 30.
Two of the men, Gregory Henderson Jr. and Maurice Ervin, evaded arrest.
“In particular,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana said, “law enforcement has asked the public for assistance in locating fugitive Gregory Henderson Jr.
“The FBI is providing a $5,000 reward for information leading to Henderson’s arrest. Those with information are asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or they can submit tips online at www.tips.fbi.gov.
Indianapolis was hub
“According to court documents,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana continued, “Gregory Henderson Jr. and Ramiro Rico De Leon,” who was not charged with dogfighting, “worked together to smuggle fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States from Mexico. Henderson served as the main source of supply to lower-level dealers,
“This was a multiagency operation, involving over 300 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana recounted, “who executed arrest and search warrants at 25 locations in central Indiana on the morning of August 31, 2023.”
“During the course of this investigation, law enforcement agents uncovered a significant dog fighting and illegal gambling ring based in Indianapolis,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana said.
Suspects had priors
The 10 men charged with dogfighting-related offenses “were identified as dog owners who maintained dogs for the purpose of fighting,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana detailed.
“Maurice Ervin also participated as a referee, weighing the dogs and holding the money until fights were complete. Ervin, Tipler, and Croons served as handlers, responsible for motivating the dogs to fight. Jones and Norfolk served as sponsors, providing a space for the fights to be held.”
Added the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, “Members of this group have a long history of dog fighting. In 2001, Indianapolis Municipal Police Department officers found seven pit bulls in need of medical attention due to lack of food and water and fresh wounds consistent with dogfighting located at Michael Sanders’ Indianapolis home.
“In 2005, Christopher Norfolk was convicted of torturing an animal after officers seized four dogs from his home.
Dogfighting suspects face five years; drug dealers may get life
“On more than four occasions,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana said, “officers found Richardson III and Ervin engaging in dog fighting activities. Both Richardson III and Ervin have sustained multiple convictions for animal torture and promoting dog fighting.”
Impounded in the August 31, 2023 raids, along with the 90 pit bulls, were substantial amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and marijuana, 43 firearms, 16 scales, more than $55,650 in cash, and “dogfighting training paraphernalia including treadmills, bite sticks and weights,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana detailed.
“If convicted, “ the media release concluded, “each defendant charged with conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture faces up to five years in federal prison. Each defendant charged with conspiracy to traffic controlled substances faces up to life.”
Linked by cell phones
Reported Sarah Nelson and Minnah Arshad for USA Today, “Law enforcement officials said they uncovered the animal fighting and illegal gambling operation during an interstate drug smuggling probe last year. Police confiscated four phones, through which detectives linked several of the accused to a dogfighting ring, according to newly unsealed court documents.
“Detectives in court records said they learned the dog transporting went as far as New York, Florida, Texas, North Carolina and West Virginia,” Nelson and Arshad mentioned.
“Indiana was listed several times in the ledger, the documents state.”
11 pit bulls in a van
The dogfighting aspect of the investigation began, Nelson and Arshad wrote, with “The 2022 arrest of a 57-year-old man found with 11 pit bulls in a van during a traffic stop in Madison, Mississippi. Animal control officers noticed two of the dogs had wounds and scars consistent with fighting.
“The discovery of the dogs in Mississippi led investigators to the arrested man’s larger-scale business, ‘Roll and Hold Pet Express,’ in Indianapolis.
“Officials said a review of his cell phone uncovered several photos of injured dogs, videos of dogfights, fliers for fighting shows, and a PDF document titled ‘Appendix 32 Cajun Rules for Dogfighting.’ In some images, the dogs wore weighted vests commonly used to strengthen dogs before a fight,” Nelson and Arshad recounted.
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Sadistic CRUEL Dogfighting must be obliterated — Society is way too lenient in its treatment of BRUTAL, unconscionable, depraved, hateful ABUSERS, who in truth belong in Prison — SHUT DOWN the SICKOS who benefit at the expense of innocent, vulnerable, loving Animals.
What a disgrace! Let’s hope they make a good example of him because no one is above the law – nor should be.
“Why jeopardize your career?” asks former HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle.
Interesting question from a man who, in 2018, was forced to resign from the Humane Society of the United States after jeopardizing his career via 15+ years of both inappropriate and illegal sexual behavior with HSUS-affiliated women. Like Vick and Moorehead, Pacelle thought he would never be held accountable. If not for the #MeToo movement, he would still be wrecking HSUS, which was corrupt even before he started working there in 1994 and really needed a reform-minded new CEO in 2004 to clean it up.
While at the Humane Society, Pacelle jeopardized his career in many other ways, including involvement in a misguided, long-running, failed lawsuit against Feld Entertainment. Pacelle claimed HSUS merely inherited the suit from the Fund for Animals, but a couple of years after the FFA-HSUS merger, Pacelle signed a large check to the (discredited) main witness in the case. Feld later filed a $25 million RICO lawsuit against the Humane Society, the ASPCA, the Fund for Animals and other plaintiffs. HSUS ended up paying Feld Entertainment well over $10 million, with Pacelle lying all over the media about the case and claiming that insurance would pay the entire settlement. .
Pacelle also protected and/or recruited to HSUS predators like David Wills, Paul Shapiro, Arthur Benjamin, and Scotlund Haisley with disturbing results. (Wills and Haisley are currently in prison.) Pacelle ignored and mocked complaints from staff members. Turns out he was also protecting himself from similar allegations. His arrogance and recklessness cost him his job and the worldwide coverage jeopardized his future prospects.
DOD executive Moorehead was obviously confident he wouldn’t get caught, working in the DC swamp, leading a double life. He was involved in dogfighting for decades and barely got a slap on the wrist when previously charged. I assume he will finally be punished for his crimes.
Thankfully, Pacelle is doing some worthwhile work these days, appropriately working for 501(c)(4) organizations and using his political and media expertise to help animals and promote the work of effective advocates like SHARK and local “Kangaroos are Not Food” organizers. Pacelle finally figured out that it’s not a good idea to jeopardize his career by constantly lying and exploiting others. Good.
ANIMALS 24-7 extensively covered all of the above. In fairness, though, Wayne Pacelle, while friendly with David Wills, did not protect him, and could not have, since Wills when forced to leave the Humane Society of the U.S. in 1995 was an HSUS vice president, of 20 years’ association with then-president John Hoyt, while Pacelle at the time was a step or two down the ladder as recently hired director of legislation.
Further, Wills mistakenly believed Pacelle was among the many ANIMALS 24-7 inside sources helping us to expose him, and allegedly threatened retaliation. ANIMALS 24-7 upon learning of the alleged threat took action to protect Pacelle, while continuing to protect our actual inside sources.
Also in fairness, Pacelle upon becoming HSUS president in 2004 did clean house. Unfortunately, some of the reputedly dynamic and dedicated young activists whom Pacelle hired to replace the personnel he ushered into retirement, or otherwise encouraged to move on, proved to be little if any better than their predecessors, once they too had the opportunity to misuse their positions.
Finally, in fairness, Pacelle even after 14 years as HSUS president never paid himself nearly as much in either salary or fringe benefits as his two immediate predecessors took, especially in inflation-adjusted dollars.
To clarify, I was thinking of HSUS’s fundraising practices that needed to be reformed in 2004. Particularly their massive direct mail operation, with HSUS fundraising contractors Quadriga Art and Market Development Group, working together in the U.S. and overseas. But I think changing the status quo would have required replacing CFO Thomas Waite and other top executives. I don’t believe Wayne Pacelle would have been able to do that, even if he wanted to.