Press Release: Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than a Year in Prison for Dogfighting
Sentence adjudicates first-ever federal dogfighting case in District of Massachusetts
The following is a news release distributed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts
BOSTON – A Hanson, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing dogs at his Massachusetts home for participation in a dogfighting venture.
John D. Murphy, 51, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 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. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 and ordered prohibited from possessing pit-bull type dogs. In November 2024, Murphy pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture, in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Murphy was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.
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“Dog fighting is a brutal and inhumane form of entertainment and is associated with other organized criminal activity, including illegal gambling,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We are committed to holding violators accountable. We commend the collaboration between federal and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting this case.”
“The Office of Inspector General is committed to working with all of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in pursuing individuals who choose to participate in animal fighting activities and engage in violations involving animal welfare,” said Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region.
In 2021, Murphy was identified discussing dogfighting on recorded calls with a New York-based dogfighting target. A subsequent search of his Facebook accounts revealed Murphy’s years-long involvement in dogfighting. Murphy communicated with other dogfighters via Facebook where they discussed the results of dogfights, injuries sustained by fighting dogs, as well as breeding dogs. Murphy also belonged to private dogfighting Facebook groups used to share fight results, buy and sell fighting dogs and exchange information on training and conditioning fighting dogs, among other things.
Photos and videos found on Murphy’s Facebook account showed a pit bull-type dog with scarring and discolorations on its head and leg consistent with that of dogfighting as well as a photo of a pit bull-type dog restrained in a breeding stand. Videos from his account showed pit bull-type dogs physically tethered to different treadmill-like devices that dogfighters commonly use to physically condition dogs for dogfights. One of the videos depicted a live raccoon caged in front of the carpet mill, to serve as a stimulus for the pit bull-type dog to run faster and harder.
In June 2023, a search of Murphy’s residence in Hanson revealed that he was keeping nine pit bull-type dogs at his home. Several of the dogs had scarring consistent with being involved in organized dogfighting.
Animal fighting paraphernalia was also found during the search of Murphy’s residence, including:
- Flirt poles, used to entice a dog to chase a stimulus;
- Spring poles, used to build a dog’s jaw strength and increase aggression;
- Several treadmills, slat mills and carpet mills, used to condition dogs to build stamina and muscle;
- A jenny mill, used to develop a dog’s endurance and musculature by enticing the animal to run on a circular track;
- Rabbit training scent for dogs;
- Break sticks, used to force a dog’s bite open, specifically at the termination of a fight or while training;
- A dog bite sleeve;
- Disposable skin staplers, used to attempt to close wounds resulting from dogfights;
- Several types of steroids and painkillers;
- Fertility medications and a breeding stand, used to restrain female dogs during breeding;
- Printouts of fighting dog pedigrees; and
- Dog fighting literature, DVDs and CD-ROMs.
A forensic examination of Murphy’s cell phone revealed significant additional evidence of his involvement in dogfighting. This included multiple dog fighting videos and WhatsApp messages between Murphy and other individuals discussing elements of dog fighting. In one of the messages, Murphy expressed his anger over having animal control called to his property and the 25 years he invested in breeding and conditioning dogs, and asserting that he will “never never never” quit what he is doing with the dogs.
In March 2024, the United States also filed a civil forfeiture complaint against 13 pit bull-type dogs, seized in June 2023 from Murphy’s residence and another residence in Townsend, Mass., that were possessed for participation in an animal fighting venture. In September and October 2024, the Court ordered the dogs to be forfeited to the United States.
To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General complaint hotline at: https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.
U.S. Attorney Foley; ENRD Acting AAG Gustafson; USDA-OIG SAC Parker; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Karen L. LoStracco, Director of the Animal Rescue League of Boston – Law Enforcement Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Marshal’s Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Maine State Police; New Hampshire State Police; Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor; Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and the Hanson, Boston and Acton Police Departments.
“The Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Department is comprised of Special Massachusetts State Police Officers who enforce the animal cruelty and neglect laws of the state. In addition to conducting our own investigations, our department works with local, state and federal partners regularly, providing expertise, training and resources for animal cruelty and neglect investigations,” Stated ARL Law Enforcement Director Karen LoStracco. “These partnerships are vital to ensuring the protection of animals through reducing duplicative efforts, eliminating gaps in enforcement and standing together for animal welfare and advocacy. We appreciate the perseverance of the USDA OIG’s office in pursuing dog fighting investigations and charges under the federal Animal Welfare Act and we value the strong working relationship we have established. Dog fighting is an especially brutal and inhumane act and we are grateful to be called upon for our expertise and resources in protecting the welfare and safety of these animals.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danial E. Bennett and Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office and Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Environmental Crimes Section, prosecuted the case. Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit for the District of Massachusetts and Trial Attorney Caitlyn F. Cook of ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section are prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.