Andrea Rosebrock 
For men who were arrested and charged in connection with the largest multistate dogfighting raid in US history were convicted in federal court and sentenced to prison time. Teddy Kiriakidis, 50, of Leasburg, Ronald Creach, 34, of Leslie, Michael Morgan, 38, of Hannibal, and Robert Hackman, 56, of Foley were all sentenced to federal prison. Kiriakidis and Creach each got 18 months, both had previous felony convictions, Morgan and Hackman each a year and day. Their crimes included; breeding, raising, training, conditioning, trafficking, fighting and destroying American pit bull terriers as well as selling animals for fighting. They pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate federal animal fighting laws, one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and one felony count of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures..
In essence, these scum, like Michael Vick, are not paying for their crimes of animal cruelty; “court showed that the men had the dogs electrocuted or shot for poor performance or serious injuries from the fighting ring, or left them to freeze to death while chained to a stake in the ground without shelter.” Just a slap on the wrist considering the heinous viciousness and cruelty of their crimes!
And these sentences were actually tougher than the federal recommendations for these crimes! Of course their lawyers whined about the sentences saying they were too harsh, arguing that the recommend sentence of 6 months probation was appropriate. Yeah, right!
“Animals were severely maimed and killed as part of this conspiracy,” Jackson said, rejecting the lawyers’ arguments. “I have to fashion a sentence that deters … and I hope people think twice about getting involved in this kind of activity.”
Their defense, the same as Vick’s, it was part of their culture, where they came from, it’s acceptable. Bullshit!! Although their sentences are a joke, even the judge didn’t buy that line of bull!
“I’m hearing this is part of a culture a lot of us aren’t familiar with,” U.S. District Judge Carol Jackson said. “But they realized they’re out of the mainstream. People involved in this know it’s illegal. Culture is not a mitigating factor. This was a serious offense.”
“Most people would find it difficult to take pleasure in watching two animals tear each other apart. Unfortunately, there are people like you who facilitate this activity,” Jackson said in court Tuesday.
These were only four of the 26 arrested in the July raids in which 500 dogs were seized in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Texas.
As for the dogs that were seized;
The Humane Society of Missouri has housed and cared for the more than 500 dogs seized in Missouri and Illinois and puppies born since the raids. About 100 dogs seized in other states were taken by rescue groups elsewhere. Teams that evaluated the dogs found most could be suitable as pets, and many have made their way to U.S. rescue groups and foster homes, pending permanent placement.
Debbie Hill, vice president of operations at the Humane Society of Missouri, said 90 remaining dogs in the St. Louis-based group’s care await their chance at placement.
Although I don’t feel the sentences fit the crimes as least we can be thankful that the scum are off the streets and this is one dogfighting right that was busted… for now. Oh, I hold no illusions that it is a permanent solution, the trash will just regroup and go deeper underground but this was a huge bust and hundreds of dogs that were rescued and saved from hell. I’ll be a lot happier when I start seeing seriously hard punishments handed down for crimes like this but I guess it is a start.
Oh culture again , most blacks are great people .It is the “gangstas” again .Dirty rotten useless scum .Why can’t God just strike them dead and end poor dog’s suffering , can you imagine the life they must lead , absolutely nothing but pain.I must admit I have very prejudice views on this so I will stop now .
Sorry hun, but these guys are white. I’m not sure about all five of them, but 3 of them are. These aren’t “gangsta” guys at all but southern rednecks. Both “cultures” use their “culture” as an excuse to maim and kill these beautiful dogs.
You are correct , these old white scum bag idiots need a good beating .This is from my hockey “culture”
I reposted this on FB. I am horrified. I saw the photos of this raid….Dogs missing limbs, carcasses on the property. How is this justice if the people don’t even think they committed a crime? I’m so sick of hearing the “it’s the culture’ excuse. Sorry-but this is all about having a moral fiber and conscience. These SOB’s had NONE. Lock em up and throw away the key. Better yet, why not electrocute them or drowned them. Maybe chain them up and torture them too.
At least HSUS saved the remaining dogs so they don’t suffer anymore.
Thanks D~
Yeh you and me both. That is a dried worn out excuse to justify their mindless existance and bad behavior. But my question is what excuse does the judicial system have for its bad behavior, in not giving these putred pieces of vomit, the sentencing they should have got? What a travisty of justice, that gos on in our courts, that allow humanity to sink even further into the mire.by not giving these and the rest the maximum sentencing. God help us all : (
Will this ever end? Millions of Pit Bulls and other breeds are put down, euthanized, used for fighting, abused, neglected etc. each year. This is not acceptable. As usual,the punishment never fits the crime. These idiots got away with it, and that sends a message to the rest of the scumbags letting them know that if they are caught, nothing will happen to them either. I am sick if this. Too bad I am not judge and jury. These muderers would all receive the death penalty.
Good question Tracey!! I am so sick of this, as well. Injustice I could just scream my head right off of my shoulders. Yes, Tracey, I would love to be a judge. I would clean up like you have never seen before. Like I wrote yesterday an eye for an eye PERIOD!!! Yes, what Melanie wrote as well. Thanks D as always. So much pain sadness and suffering. It’s so unfair and deeply upsetting
I agree with each and every one of you yet we must take the higher ground. Our hatred and disgust should be turned into something else. Like what we are doing now-networking and educating people to what is happening. There will always be those contrary people who are obviously themselves, filled with self-hatred or why else would they do such horrible things.
I think part of the problem is the existing laws that don’t give animals many rights. And I also blame the thinking that “God gave us dominion over animals” which seems to give people the license to do whatever they want with animals. The laws need to be changed giving these crimes a MUCH greater penalty and if anyone has any idea about how to get this done, let’s work on it. And look at DDB, where folks that rescue an abused and abandoned dog get jail time and fines for “stealing” someone else’s “property.” Makes me sick. We need to change the laws on the books!