All defendants were charged in February 2024

Eight South Georgians, along with six others, have been convicted in a large-scale federal dog fighting case.

It was reported in the Donalsonville News in February of 2024 that the defendants were charged in a major dog fighting event that occurred in April 2022 in Donalsonville.

According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the following people have accepted the guilty pleas:

Tamichael Elijah, 48, of Donalsonville; Marvin Pulley, III, 53, of Donalsonville and Jakin; Brandon Baker, 42, of Panama City; Christopher Travis Beaumont, 38, of Panama City; Herman Buggs, Jr., 57, of Donalsonville; Terrance Davis, 46, of Pansey, Alabama; Timothy Freeman, 27, of Bainbridge; Terelle Ganzy, 35, of Panama City; Gary Hopkins, 67, of Donalsonville; Cornelious Johnson, 40, of Panama City; Rodrecus Kimble, 44, of Donalsonville; Donnametric Miller, 42, of Donalsonville; Willie Russell, 43, of Blakely; and Fredricus White, 36, of Panama City.

The defendants and others brought a total of 24 pit bull-type dogs to fight that April 2022 weekend in a series of matches. Law enforcement personnel who disrupted the event found numerous dogs inside crates in cars on the property.

The participants used their cars to store dogs who had already fought, as well as those whose handlers were awaiting their turn in the fighting pit. Some dogs were kept on chains on the property.

A total of 27 dogs were rescued, including one found in the pit with severe injuries, which died shortly after. The dogs in the cars also bore recent injuries and historical fighting scars.

“Under federal law, it is illegal not only to fight dogs in a venture that affects interstate commerce, but also to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase or receive dogs for fighting purposes.”

All defendants but Freeman pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to violate the animal fighting prohibition of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Defendants Beaumont and Miller also pleaded guilty to sponsoring or exhibiting (i.e., handling) a dog in a dog fight.

The DOJ said in a release that Baker, Davis, Ganzy, Johnson, Pulley and White further pleaded guilty to possessing and transporting a dog for purposes of using the dog in an animal fighting venture. Freeman pleaded guilty to spectating at an animal fight. Defendants Miller and Pulley also pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a firearm by a person with a prior felony conviction.

Russell is set to be sentenced on February 28. The court has not yet set sentencing dates for the other defendants.

Each defendant faces maximum penalties of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count of animal fighting charges.

Miller also faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the firearm charge, and Pulley faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on his firearm charge.