Fredricus White, 38, and Cornelious Johnson, 41, both from Panama City, Florida, have been sentenced to federal prison for possessing fighting dogs and firearms as convicted felons. White received a seven-year sentence, while Johnson was sentenced to two years and six months. Both sentences will be served consecutively to previous federal sentences handed down in Georgia last year related to an unrelated dog fight. After their release from prison, each will be subject to three years of supervised release. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“These defendants engaged in the cruel and continued mistreatment of animals, and now they find themselves locked in a federal cell for their crimes. Dismantling this dog fighting enterprise was made possible through the outstanding investigative work of Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford’s deputies and our federal law enforcement partners, and this successful prosecution was secured with excellent support from the Department of Justice’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division. My office is firmly committed to ending the cruel infliction of pain on animals purely for sport and financial gain in the Northern District of Florida,” said U.S. Attorney Heekin.
According to court documents, White and Johnson conspired to violate the Animal Welfare Act between 2018 and February 2024 by organizing dog fights, breeding fighting dogs, gambling on illegal fights, and training dogs for these events. In 2022, both men were arrested in Georgia for participating in a dog fight. Federal arrest warrants issued in February 2024 led authorities to two rural properties near Panama City where White and Johnson were still keeping, breeding, and training fighting dogs. A search at White’s residence uncovered three firearms; he was prohibited from possessing them due to felony convictions in 2009 and 2012.
Authorities seized twenty-seven dogs from the properties involved. The animals were surrendered to the United States Marshals Service for care and rehabilitation.
Sheriff Tommy Ford commented: “The Bay County Sheriff’s Office stands up for victims who have a voice and for those who cannot speak for themselves. This type of conduct will not be tolerated in our community, and we hope this sends a clear message to anyone who intends to harm our pets.”
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) stated: “We are glad to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida to bring perpetrators of dog fighting to justice. Dog fighting is a vicious crime that’s often connected with other criminal activity. ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section is proud to work with our colleagues throughout the Department of Justice to enforce the law.”
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG), with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Meredith L. Steer and Kaitlin Weiss prosecuted the case with help from ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative using resources from across the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), as well as protecting communities from violent crime along with human and drug trafficking.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one among 94 offices serving as principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General nationwide. More information about public court documents can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
