MACON — Ten Georgia residents and one from Alabama have been indicted on federal charges including drug and dogfighting violations.
According to a 136-count federal indictment, unsealed Thursday, 10 of the defendants were involved in a conspiracy between May 2019 and February 2020 to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base. In addition, five of them were involved in a conspiracy to sponsor and exhibit dogs in a dogfight, and possess, train, transport, deliver and receive dogs for the purpose of dogfighting, federal prosecutors said in a news release.
“Dogfighting is brutal and illegal; it is particularly troubling when combined with drug trafficking,” said Peter D. Leary, acting U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. “We will investigate and prosecute individuals who engage in these criminal acts and seek justice for all of their victims. I thank our law enforcement partners for their hard work on this significant investigation.”
The indictment outlines dogfights the defendants are alleged to have attended between May 2019 and February 2020, as well as discussions between the co-conspirators about training and matching up their dogs for fighting.
The defendants include: Jarvis Lockett, 40, of Warner Robins; Derrick Owens, 37, of Woodland; Christopher Raines, 50, of Talbotton; Armard Davis, 41, of Fort Valley; Jason Carter, 38, of Phenix City, Alabama; Shaquille Bentley, 26, of Roberta; Bryanna Holmes, 24, of Fort Valley; Vernon Vegas, 49, of Suwanee; Lekey Davis, 45, of Talbotton; Kathy Ann Whitfield, 61, of Columbus; and Rodrick Walton, 40, of Shiloh.
The indictment said Lockett, Owens, Raines, A. Davis, Carter, Bentley, Holmes, Vegas, Lekey Davis and Whitfield were involved in a conspiracy between May 2019 and February 2020 to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base. Lockett is charged in separate counts with distribution of cocaine base and cocaine, and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine. Armard Davis and Holmes are charged in separate counts with possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and cocaine. Walton is charged in a separate count with possession of cocaine.
Lockett faces 15 dogfighting charges, while Raines is facing 40; Owens, 44; Walton, 18; and Davis, nine.
“As this case demonstrates, we continue to aggressively prosecute dog fighters and those who work together to support and further their inhumane criminal activities,” said Jean Williams, acting assistant attorney general of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
