Last of 12 men involved in dog fighting conspiracies sentenced

NEW JERSEY, US – Judge Peter G. Sheridan on Thursday sentenced Justin Love, 39, of Sewell, New Jersey to 54 months in prison.

A jury had convicted Love of one felony count of conspiracy to violate the animal fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, six felony counts of possessing a dog intended for use in an animal fighting venture, and two felony counts of purchasing and receiving a dog intended for use in an animal fighting venture.

Eleven others had earlier been convicted. Early in May 29, Robert A. Elliott, Sr., (50), of Millville, New Jersey was sentenced to 24 months in prison. He was sentenced with Dajwan Ware.

A jury had convicted Elliott of one felony count of conspiracy to violate the animal fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act, and 12 felony counts of possessing a dog intended for use in an animal fighting venture.

Dajwan Ware, (46), of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced to 24 months in prison. A jury had convicted Ware of one felony count of conspiracy to violate the animal fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act.

“The sentencing brings to a close Operation Grand Champion, a multi-jurisdictional federal dog fighting investigation which commenced in 2015 and resulted in the convictions of 12 defendants in four federal districts.

“The 12 defendants were sentenced to a total of 315 months in prison. The phrase “Grand Champion” is used by dog fighters to refer to a dog with more than five dog fighting “victories.” As a result of the investigation, 113 dogs were rescued and either surrendered or forfeited to the government.