Under is a press liberate equipped by means of america Lawyer’s Place of job — District of Massachusetts
BOSTON – A Hanson guy used to be arrested lately for allegedly possessing canines at his Massachusetts house for participation in a dogfighting undertaking.
John Murphy, 50, used to be indicted on 9 counts of possessing animals to be used in an animal combating undertaking, in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Murphy will seem in federal courtroom in Boston at 10:45 a.m. lately.
In keeping with the indictment, Murphy possessed a lot of pieces related to possessing canines for participation in an animal combating undertaking at his place of abode in Hanson, Mass., together with: intravenous infusion apparatus; syringes; antibiotics; injectable anabolic steroids; injectable corticosteroids; a pores and skin stapler; forceps; apparatus used to coach canines, together with a treadmill, a slat mill, a carpet mill, and a flirt pole; canine coaching and combating literature; a dangling virtual scale used to weigh canines for suits; written coaching regimens; wreck sticks, used to split combating canines; and a breeding stand used to immobilize feminine canines throughout breeding to stop hurt whilst mating.
America additionally filed a civil forfeiture grievance towards 13 pit bull-type canines, seized in June 2023 from Murphy’s place of abode and some other place of abode in Townsend, Mass. As alleged within the civil forfeiture grievance, a number of of the seized canines had proof of scarring. The canines are these days within the custody of the U.S. Marshals Provider (USMS) being cared for by means of a USMS-contractor. Pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act, animals considering violations of seven U.S.C. § 2156 are matter to forfeiture to america.
At each places the place the canines have been seized, as alleged within the civil forfeiture grievance, the next pieces frequently related to an unlawful dogfighting operation have been discovered: coaching apparatus; veterinary provides; canine combating literature, DVDs, and/or CD-ROMs; kennels used to deal with canines personally; and wreck sticks, which dogfighters use to power open a canine’s chunk onto some other canine’s frame, particularly on the termination of a battle or whilst coaching.
The civil forfeiture grievance additionally alleges that Murphy communicated with different dogfighters by way of Fb the place they mentioned the result of dogfights, accidents sustained by means of combating canines, in addition to breeding canines. It’s alleged that Murphy additionally belonged to personal dogfighting Fb teams used to proportion battle effects, purchase and promote combating canines and trade knowledge on coaching and conditioning combating canines, amongst different issues.
It’s additional alleged that Murphy’s Fb accounts contained a photograph of a pit bull-type canine with scarring and discolorations on its head and leg in step with that of dogfighting, a photograph of a pit bull-type canine restrained in a breeding stand, and movies that depicted pit bull-type canines bodily tethered to treadmill-like-devices frequently used to bodily situation canines in preparation for a dogfight. One video allegedly depicted what seems to be reside bait positioned on the finish of the mill to trap the pit bull-type canine to run quicker and more difficult.
To file animal combating crimes, please touch your native regulation enforcement or the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s Place of job of Inspector Common grievance hotline at: https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.
The fees of possessing animals to be used in an animal combating undertaking every supply for a sentence of as much as 5 years in jail, 3 years of supervised liberate and a advantageous of as much as $250,000. Sentences are imposed by means of a federal district courtroom pass judgement on based totally upon the U.S. Sentencing Tips and statutes which govern the resolution of a sentence in a prison case.
Performing United States Lawyer Joshua S. Levy; Christopher P. Robinson, Performing Particular Agent in Rate of the U.S. Division of Agriculture – Place of job of Inspector Common, Northeast Area; John E. Mawn Jr., Meantime Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Joseph F. King, Director of the Animal Rescue League of Boston – Legislation Enforcement Department made the announcement lately.
Precious help used to be equipped by means of Native land Safety Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Coverage; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Provider; U.S. Marshals Provider; Maine State Police; New Hampshire State Police; Massachusetts Place of job of the State Auditor; Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and the Hanson, Boston, and Acton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Legal professionals Danial E. Bennett and Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Department Place of job and Trial Lawyer Matthew T. Morris of the Justice Division’s Atmosphere and Herbal Assets Department (ENRD), Environmental Crimes Segment, are prosecuting the case. Carol E. Head, Leader of the Asset Restoration Unit for the District of Massachusetts, and Trial Lawyer Caitlyn F. Prepare dinner of ENRD’s Flora and fauna and Marine Assets Segment are prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.
The main points contained within the charging paperwork and civil forfeiture grievance are allegations. The defendant is presumed blameless except and till confirmed in charge past an inexpensive doubt in a courtroom of regulation. America will have to determine that the canines are matter to forfeiture by means of a preponderance of the proof.