Dogfighting ring busted in Halifax County

HALIFAX COUNTY, VA --

7:29 p.m.

It's highly unusual in a criminal case to see mugshots for the victims. But that's what happened in Halifax County on Wednesday, as sheriff's deputies pulled 41 pit bulls and beagles from a suspected dogfighting ring bust.

Each dog posed beside a board, and had their picture taken. Each photo coincided with an ID number for the dogs, found at a home on Dr. Lacy Trail. The animal rescue group ASPCA helped with the removal of the dogs.

"We've certainly worked much much larger operations. We've worked smaller operations. But I will say for these 41 dogs, it's very substantial," said Tim Rickey with the ASPCA.

"We believe dog fighting was taking place on the property, and also dogs were being bought and sold from the area," said Halifax Co. Sheriff Stanley Noblin. The Sheriff went on to say his investigators found what appeared to be a dogfighting pit behind the home.

The case began with a call from a concerned citizen about illegal drugs. The investigation led to two federal indictments, and four arrests on dogfighting, crack cocaine, and/or gun charges.

Officers arrested four men in connection with the case: Jonathan Williams (suspected ringleader), William Thaxton Jr., Jermaine Thaxton, and Levar Adams.

Williams faces federal charges of:

Conspiring to sell or transport a dog or animal to be used in an animal fighting venture
Distributing crack cocaine (3 counts)
Being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm
Illegally transferring a firearm

Jermaine Thaxton faces a federal charge of conspiring to sell or transfer a dog or animal to be used in an animal fighting venture.

William Thaxton Jr. Faces federal charges of:
Distributing more than 28 grams of crack cocaine
Possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime

Knowingly possessing a firearm which had been shipped or transported in interstate commerce which had the manufacturer's serial number removed or altered

Federal investigator say W. Thaxton Jr. Is not charged with dogfighting.

The U.S. Attorney's Office of Western Virginia says Williams and Jermaine Thaxton sold a pit bull fighting dog to a confidential informant for $400. Investigators say Williams discussed the price with J. Thaxton before the sale, then J. Thaxton "presented the dog" to another animal to "provoke a fight," before putting the dog in the buyer's car trunk.

Federal investigators say an undercover ATF agent met with Williams about a month later. The two talked about the dogfighting business and buying dogs for fighting, according to the ATF agent. The agent added that Williams claimed he goes to North Carolina to conduct his dogfighting.

All 41 of the dogs have been taken to an "undisclosed location." A veterinarian will examine their medical conditions, and their temperments. The goal is to eventually get the dogs into animal rescue facilities across the country, then adopted.

Deputies say the dogs they found are made up of:

25 adult pit bulls
7 pit bull puppies
3 adult beagles
6 beagle puppies

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6:06 p.m.

A fourth man has been arrested in this investigation. He is Jermaine Thaxton.

4:22 p.m.

By WSLS News Staff

The U.S. Attorney's Office says Wednesday's bust coincides with the unsealing of two federal indictments.

A federal grand jury indicted Jonathan Kennard Williams, 26, of Nathalie, last Thursday, on these charges:

3 counts of distributing crack cocaine
1 count of being a felon illegally in possession of a firearm
1 count of illegally transferring a firearm
1 count of conspiring to sell or transport a dog or animal to be used in an animal fighting venture

The same federal grand jury also indicted Jermaine Thaxton, 23, of Nathalie, with one count of conspiring to sell or transfer a dog or animal to be used in an animal fighting venture.

Investigators say the duo sold a pit bull fighting dog to a confidential informant for $400, and that Williams discussed the sale price with Thaxton before making an agreement. Investigators add that Thaxton showed the dog to another animal to provoke a fight, before walking the dog to the confidential informant's car, and putting the dog in the trunk.

The feds say about one month later, an undercover ATF agent met with Williams to discuss the dog fighting business and buy fighting dogs. Williams told the undercover agent that he goes to North Carolina to conduct all of his dog fighting.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says the drug and gun charges against Williams are in connection with an investigation into crack cocaine distribution, possession of a Tec9, 9mm semi-automatic pistol, and a .38 caliber revolver.

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1:41 p.m.

From Angela Hatcher, in the field

Halifax County Sheriff's deputies tell me they've pulled out 41 dogs now:

25 adult pit bulls
7 pit bull puppies
3 adult beagles
6 beagle puppies

Investigators say a concerned citizen tipped them off about drug activity in the area where the dogs where found.

Deputies searched two homes, one on Dr. Lacy Trail, and a second on Golden Leaf Road. The deputies found the dogs and a fighting pit at the home on Dr. Lacy Trail. Deputies also found drugs, guns, and money at both homes.

Three people have been arrested: