NEW JERSEY
A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Robert Arellano, 65, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, to four years for his role in multi-state dogfighting conspiracy, according to officials.
A jury previously convicted Arellano of one felony count of conspiracy to violate the animal fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, and two felony counts of selling, transporting, and delivering dogs intended for use in an animal fighting venture, officials stated.
Arellano also pleaded guilty to three felony counts of possessing a dog intended for use in an animal fighting venture in a related federal case in New Mexico that was consolidated with his New Jersey case for sentencing.
Judge Peter G. Sheridan also sentence Arellano to three years’ supervised release.
Three other defendants were convicted as part of the same jury trial; two defendants will be sentenced on May 29, 2019, and the third defendant will be sentenced on May 30, 2019.
“Animal fighting for sport is not an activity a civilized country tolerates,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bosset Clark. “Our Division will continue to pursue and prosecute illegal animal fighting ventures across the country.”
“Dogfighting for entertainment and profit is the organized and heinous business of breeding and conditioning dogs to fight each other until one dog kills the other,” said U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson for the District of New Mexico. “Today’s sentencing brings to an end Mr. Arellano’s 30 years in this unconscionable business, and hopefully will deter others who seek to profit from forcing animals fight to the death.”
According to trial evidence and court documents filed in connection with the cases, the defendant and his associates regularly fought dogs – including to the death – and repeatedly trafficked in dogs with other dog fighters across several states for the purpose of dogfighting.
Arellano and the other defendants also maintained significant numbers of fighting dogs and substantial dog fighting equipment, such as dog treadmills, intravenous drug bags and lines, “breeding stands” used to immobilize female dogs, and chains weighing up to several pounds per linear foot.
A defendant who pleaded guilty to charges in a related case admitted that his dog died in his car on the way home after a dog fight.
Evidence at trial showed that dog deaths from fighting were a common outcome. Another defendant convicted at trial attempted to set up a “class” for dog fighters to practice administering I.V. fluids to injured dogs, using live dogs as their practice subjects.
“Dog fighting, far from being any kind of ‘sport’, shows a complete disregard for animals and is both despicable and cruel,” said Brian Michael, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, Newark. “HSI will continue to cooperate with our local, state and national partners, as happened here, to investigate such crimes so the perpetrators can be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
This case is part of Operation Grand Champion, a coordinated effort across numerous federal judicial districts to combat organized dogfighting.
The phrase “Grand Champion” is used by dog fighters to refer to a dog with more than five dogfighting “victories.” To date, eleven defendants from five states have been convicted and sentenced to a total of 164 months in prison as part of Operation Grand Champion.
Additionally, 113 dogs have been rescued, and either surrendered or forfeited to the government.