Bloodsport Bust: Alleged Bloodsport Breeds Charged

Fighting Dog Breeders Charged
BUST UPDATE: Tucson, AZ - SWAT teams raided four homes late last month and arrested members of an allegedly powerful ring of breeders accused of raising pit bulls for blood sport. The alleged breeders have officially been charged.

Mahlon Patrick is charged with two counts of dogfighting and 21 counts of animal cruelty. John Goodwin, with the Humane Society of the United States, says Patrick has been in the dog fighting business since the 70s. He was known worldwide for two blood lines he originated. They go under the names Tombstone and Bolio.

Also charged is Terry "T.L." Williams. Goodwin says Williams ran the online registry for the operation. Now he's charged with one count of dogfighting and 24 counts of animal cruelty.

"All American Dog Registry was pit bull only," Goodwin said. "It wasn't the normal pit bull owners that were using them. It was dog fighters." Goodwin says dog fight breeders use the site to get the registration papers to prove the dog's bloodline.

Robert Clayton Smith is charged with one count of dogfighting and 24 counts of animal cruelty. Emily Dennis is charged with two counts of dogfighting and 21 counts of animal cruelty. Juan Verdeen is charged with two counts of dogfighting, 11 counts of animal cruelty and 16 counts of failure to obtain licenses. Zenaida Verdeen is charged with two counts of dogfighting, 11 counts of animal cruelty and 16 counts of failure to obtain licenses.

Related articles:
03/04/08: Shelters Overflowing After Dog Fighting Bust
02/28/08: Investigators Continue to Build Case Against Dogfighters
02/23/08: Remains of Dogs Found in Shallow Graves
02/21/08: Officials Dismantle Upper Echelon Dog Fighters
02/20/08: Big Fighting Dog Breeder Busted

Labels: dogfighting