Five-year investigation brings charges against one suspect. Another was apparently already convicted.
BOSTON, Massachusetts––”Beginning in 2021,” the affidavit of U.S. Department of Agriculture special investigator Christopher Robinson begins, “the United States initiated a criminal investigation of CO-CONSPIRATOR 1 for federal offenses related to dog fighting.
“Law enforcement identified two Facebook accounts associated with CO-CONSPIRATOR 1.
“On May 27, 2022,” a Massachusetts federal judge “issued search warrants for both of CO-CONSPIRATOR 1’s Facebook accounts. The records produced by Facebook in response to those warrants contain evidence of both [COREY] ELLIOTT as well as CO-CONSPIRATOR 1’s involvement in dog fighting.”
Nearly four years later, on April 14, 2026, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, “A Carver, Massachusetts man,” Corey Elliott, “has been arrested and charged in connection with his alleged participation in a multi-year dog fighting conspiracy involving the breeding, training and fighting of dogs, as well as related animal cruelty and illegal gambling activities.”
The identity of “CO-CONSPIRATOR 1” and any charges against “CO-CONSPIRATOR 1” remain undisclosed.
Who is Corey Elliott?
Corey Elliott, according to Emily Maher and Tim Nazzaro of WCBV television news channel 5 in Boston, “either works or previously worked at Boston Children’s Hospital. NewsCenter 5 has reached out to the hospital for comment but has not heard back,” they mentioned.
“Corey Elliott, 49, has been charged with conspiring to participate in an animal fighting venture in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office media release continued.
“Specifically” said the media release, “it is alleged that Elliott and a co-conspirator operated a dog fighting venture, at times using the kennel name the No Name Gang, through which they possessed, bred, trained and fought dogs for sport and profit.
“The defendant and his co-conspirator allegedly maintained a close partnership over a period of years,” the media release detailed, “during which they communicated extensively about dog fighting activities, including arranging fights, discussing outcomes, placing wagers and coordinating the acquisition, sale and conditioning of dogs for fighting purposes.”
Allegedly held dog fights at home
Elliott in specific, the charging documents allege, “was directly involved in organizing and hosting dog fighting events, including at his residence in Carver, Massachusetts, and assisted in constructing dog fighting pits and kennel structures designed to house and condition dogs for fighting. Elliott and his co-conspirator allegedly discussed plans for specific fights, including the dogs to be used, the location and timing of the events, and preparations necessary to conduct the fights.
“It is further alleged,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office media release summarizes, “that Elliott engaged in acts of animal cruelty in furtherance of the conspiracy, including training dogs to fight, subjecting dogs to violent encounters, and culling dogs.
“Elliott also allegedly discussed disposing of deceased animals and, at times, taking steps to conceal evidence of dog fighting activity,” including “use of coded language when discussing dog fighting activities, concealing dogs from public view, advising one another on how to avoid scrutiny from law enforcement and animal control authorities, and relocating dogs to avoid potential seizure.
(Massachusetts U.S. District Attorney’s Office photo)
John D. Murphy
“Searches of the [un-named] co-conspirator’s residence in June 2023 resulted in the seizure of multiple pit bull-type dogs and evidence consistent with dog fighting activity,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office media release said, “including veterinary supplies, training equipment, and implements associated with dog fighting.”
A June 8, 2023 report by NBC Universal mentioned that, “An investigation at a home in Hanson, Massachusetts, is looking into possible dog fighting, law enforcement sources told NBC 10 in Boston. Investigators released few details,” but “Federal agents and the Animal Rescue League of Boston searched a home on East Washington Street. Throughout the day, investigators could be seen taking out boxes, paper bags, and empty animal crates.
“A law enforcement source also told NBC10 Boston that the investigation involved multiple locations in Massachusetts and two other states.”
Convicted dog fighter John D. Murphy lived in Hanson, Massachusetts at that time.
(Massachusetts U.S. District Attorney’s Office photo)
Murphy copped a plea
Murphy, like Elliott, apparently came under investigation in 2021, when he “was identified discussing dog fighting on recorded calls with a New York-based dog fighting target,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts disclosed when Murphy was sentenced in April 2025.
Indicted in March 2024, Murphy in November 2024 pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture.
Murphy was in April 2025 sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to serve one year and one day in prison, with the last three months to be served in community confinement, followed by three years of supervised release, and “was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 and prohibited from possessing pit-bull type dogs,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said at the time.
(See Dogfighting gang member busted again, another sentenced, 11 nabbed in NC.)
Multiple pit bulls impounded from Elliott
“In June 2025,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts recounted on April 14, 2026, “during a search of Elliott’s residence in Carver, Massachusetts, multiple pit bull-type dogs were seized from an outdoor kennel area.
“According to the charging documents, several of the dogs exhibited scarring consistent with dog fighting. It is further alleged that multiple items consistent with dog fighting activity were also recovered, including dog pedigrees, harnesses, leashes, syringes and veterinary medications, as well as equipment used to train and condition dogs.”
Concluded the U.S. Attorney’s Office media release, “The charge of conspiring to participate in an animal fighting venture provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.”
90 pit bulls & eight suspects in Mississippi
The Corey Elliott case is at least the sixth U.S. dog fighting case coming to light in 2026.
A week later, in a raid reportedly triggered by an anonymous tip, 67 pit bulls were impounded from a suspected dog fighting ring in Vancleave, Mississippi, Jackson County sheriff John Ledbetter told Noah Noble of WLOX in Biloxi.
Many, Ledbetter said, were suffering injuries “From broken bones to scratches, gouges, and pretty substantial cuts.”
Charged with dog fighting were two suspects, identified as Princeton Knox and Tracy Daniels.
“A third suspect, convicted felon Jaswan Butler, was also arrested, charged with probation violation, paraphernalia, and gun possession,” Noble reported.
The pit bulls “were taken to the Jackson County Animal Shelter — a shelter that was already housing 200 animals. This sudden influx pushed the small shelter past its capacity. Some animals had to be put down to make room,” Noble finished.
Texas dog fighting bust
On February 10, 2026, reported Allie Spillyards and Alicia Barrera for NBC 5 in Dallas, “More than 200 dogs were rescued in what police say was a major bust in an alleged dog fighting network that stretched across several North Texas counties, the largest bust of its kind in recent history.
“Dallas Police, along with state and federal officials, Spillyards and Barrera said,
“served 27 warrants at properties in Dallas, Ellis, Kaufman, and Smith counties.
“According to police, more than 200 dogs were rescued, stolen guns were recovered, and additional evidence of dog fighting was seized.”
The alleged fighting pit bulls were said to be tethered to heavy chains and in dilapidated, makeshift kennels.”
(Beth Clifton collage)
Dog fight busted in Lousiana
A little less than two weeks later, on February 21, 2026, the sheriff’s office in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana raided an alleged dog fight in progress, “operating on property in Roseland, which is north of Amite,” specified Bob Warren of NOLA.com.
Continued Warren, “Deputies acting on a tip at around 8 p.m. arrived at the site to find more than a dozen people scattering, the sheriff’s office said. At the site, deputies found a ring in which the dogs fought, a scale, and a program featuring the various dogs to be fought. They also found a dog in bad physical condition.”
Said the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office in a prepared statement, “The ongoing investigation led detectives to a property about a mile away from the event location, where detectives found 13 dogs chained to a line of poles surrounded by an electric fence.
“Most of the dogs, but not all, had only a plastic barrel for shelter and dirty water bowls. No food was found anywhere on the property.
Four suspects
“Several dogs had numerous old scars, one had a more recent, extensive eye injury, and one had a fresh tail injury. There was also evidence that dog fighting events were held on this property as well.”
Property owner Alfred Dyson, 64, “who authorities said owned the property, was booked on counts of dog fighting and cruelty to animals,” Warren reported.
Alfred Lott, Jr., 52, of Kentwood, Louisiana, “is wanted on 13 counts of Dog Fighting and Cruelty to Animals,” the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office said.
Arthur Rose, Sr., 43, of Slidell, Louisiana, and David Coleman III, 26 , of Port Arthur, Texas, were “wanted on one count each of Dog Fighting and Cruelty to Animals,” the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office added.
All three suspects were apprehended by March 11, 2026.
19 indicted in Georgia
“Nineteen individuals have been indicted following a year-long investigation into an alleged dog fighting operation in Twiggs County, Georgia,” the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office announced in a February 26, 2026 media release, but did not name the suspects.
“The indictments, returned by a Twiggs County grand jury,” the media release continued, “allege that the defendants participated in organized dog fighting activities in violation of Georgia law.
“The charges stem from a comprehensive investigation involving surveillance, the execution of search warrants, recovery of animals, and the collection of evidence related to animal cruelty and illegal dog fighting practices.
The Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office said the raid was “conducted in close partnership with the Office of the District Attorney, with critical assistance from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the ASPCA, the Atlanta Humane Society, LaGrange Animal Control, and Laurens County Animal Control.”
Unclear is whether the series of U.S. dog fighting busts have any connection with an April 9, 2026 bust in North London, England.
(Daniel Leventhal photo)
Corey Ledgister, 51, of Enfield, was reportedly arrested in possession of 13 counterfeit Glock-style firearms, 13 extended magazines and 640 rounds of ammunition, along with cannabis and “eight prohibited dogs,” meaning pit bulls, who “had injuries consistent with breeding and dog fighting,” according to a London Police statement.
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