Fla. man gets 7 years for dog fighting; feds urge reporting
Jose Miguel Carrillo, of Spring Hill, Florida, was sentenced to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Investigators say that Carrillo conspired with others to purchase and breed dogs for use in dog fights. He also staged dog fights at his home and traveled to dog fights in Massachusetts, Florida, and Connecticut.
Authorities searched Carrillo's home in June 2023 and seized 10 pitbull-type dogs and guns. Most of the dogs were later adopted.
Carrillo also possessed dog fighting paraphernalia including a bloodstained dog fighting box, a skin stapler, syringes, and injectable veterinary medications.
'To its core, dog fighting is a cruel and criminal exploitation of animals for entertainment,' said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. 'Today's sentence sends a strong deterrent message that the Justice Department will vigorously prosecute these cases.'
To report animal fighting crimes, contact your local law enforcement or the USDA-OIG's complaint hotline at: usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
22 minutes ago
- The Hill
Cornyn asks DOJ to probe groups tied to O'Rourke, others in Texas fight
Sen. John Cornyn (D-Texas) is asking the Justice Department (DOJ) to investigate groups —including former Rep. Beto O'Rourke's (D) Powered by People — that have allegedly helped fund Texas Democrats who fled the state to stall a GOP mid-decade redistricting plan. 'I write to encourage the Department of Justice to open an investigation into potential violations of federal law committed by the Political Action Committees and special interest groups providing funding and assistance to members of the Texas House of Representatives who absconded from the state and violated their duties to the citizens of Texas,' Cornyn wrote in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi. 'I write today to encourage an investigation of the entities funding this charade. News reports make clear that PACs tied to Beto O'Rourke and megadonors such as George Soros are supporting the legislators, along with other campaign entities,' he continued. 'These outside groups appear to be acting in violation of federal public corruption and election laws.' More than 50 Texas state legislators left the Lone Star State earlier this month to break quorum, depriving the state House of the numbers it needs to move forward with a redistricting plan backed by President Trump. The proposal, which passed through the state Senate on Tuesday, would net Republicans five additional House seats and has triggered redistricting talks in other states on both sides of the aisle ahead of the 2026 midterms. Cornyn in his letter called out O'Rourke, alleging that his political group funded 'luxurious private jets' for the quorum-breaking lawmakers, along with food, lodging and logistical support from other groups. The latest move from the senator follows his recent call for the FBI to help track down quorum-breakers, comes as he seeks to fend off a conservative primary challenge from Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in next year's election. Recent polling has shown Cornyn trailing Paxton, in some cases by double digits, though his team is projecting optimism that they'll be able to fend off the challenge. Paxton has also swung at O'Rourke and his group, which he's claimed engaged in unlawful fundraising activity to help the Democratic state lawmakers. He was granted a temporary restraining order last week, and is now seeking O'Rourke's arrest as he alleges that the order was violated. Meanwhile, Texas Democrats are trying to wait out the ongoing 30-day special session as their absence puts a pause on advancing the new Congressional map, but Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has said he planned to call another immediately afterward. The venture comes with hefty expenses. In addition to the costs of living away from their homes in Texas, the participating Democrats each face $500-a-day fines, along with the threat of arrest and removal from their seats. California's Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has pledged to redraw the Golden State's congressional maps in a move that could counter Texas's gains with five additional Democratic House seats, depending on whether Republicans move forward with redistricting.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
USPS worker boasted on social media about luxury vacations and Rolex she purchased using stolen mail, prosecutors say
A former letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service has pleaded guilty to stealing checks and debit and credit cards then selling them to accomplices, using the pilfered money to fund a luxury lifestyle of trips to the Caribbean and Instagram brags with piles of cash, officials say. Marry Ann Magdamit, 31, of Carson, California, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, the Justice Department announced on Monday. During her time at the Torrance Main Post Office in the Los Angeles area, Magdamit stole mail containing checks, personal information, and debit and credit cards. The mail carrier then either activated the stolen cards or sold them to co-conspirators. She also arranged to have people cash stolen checks, often using counterfeit identity documents matching the name of the original intended recipients, officials said. The scheme hit federally insured banks and credit unions among other institutions, the Justice Department said. As the money piled up, Magdamit is accused of flaunting a luxury lifestyle on social media, posing with piles of cash and taking trips to Aruba and Turks and Caicos. A December 2024 search of her apartment led to the seizure of 133 stolen credit and debit cards,16 Treasury checks, and a loaded, un-serialized Glock-style 'ghost gun' with an extended 27-round magazine, according to authorities. Magdamit was arrested on July 1 when authorities learned she was still making purchases with victim credit cards. A search of her apartment that day yielded more stolen cards, it's alleged. She has agreed to forfeit a Rolex watch and other goods. The 31-year-old is set for sentencing on October 27 and could face up to 30 years in federal prison. Solve the daily Crossword
4 hours ago
Mexico transfers 26 cartel figures wanted by US authorities in deal with Trump administration
WASHINGTON -- Mexico sent 26 high-ranking cartel figures to the United States Tuesday in the latest major deal with the Trump administration as American authorities ratchet up pressure on criminal networks smuggling drugs across the border. Those handed over to U.S. custody include Abigael González Valencia, a leader of 'Los Cuinis,' a group closely aligned with notorious cartel Jalisco New Generation or CJNG. Another defendant, Roberto Salazar, is wanted in connection to the 2008 killing of a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy. Other prominent figures have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel and other violent drug trafficking groups. The transfers are a milestone for the Trump administration, which is made dismantling dangerous drug cartels a key Justice Department priority. It's the second time in months that Mexico has expelled cartel figures accused of narcotics smuggling, murder and other crimes amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration to curb the flow of drugs onto American streets. 'These 26 men have all played a role in bringing violence and drugs to American shores — under this Department of Justice, they will face severe consequences for their crimes against this country,' Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. 'We are grateful to Mexico's National Security team for their collaboration in this matter.' The cartel figures were put on planes to the U.S. after the Justice Department agreed not to seek the death penalty against any of the defendants or against any cartel leaders and members sent to the U.S. in February. That transfer was of 29 cartel figures, including drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, who was behind the killing of a U.S. DEA agent in 1985. 'This transfer is yet another example of what is possible when two governments stand united against violence and impunity,' U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson said in a statement. 'These fugitives will now face justice in U.S. courts, and the citizens of both of our nations will be safer from these common enemies.' The February transfers came as Mexican officials were trying to head off the Trump administration's threat of imposing tariffs on Mexican imports. Late last month, President Donald Trump spoke with Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum and agreed to put off threatened 30% tariffs for another 90 days to allow for negotiations. Sheinbaum has shown a willingness to cooperate more on security than her predecessor, specifically being more aggressive in pursuit of Mexico's cartels. But she has drawn a clear line when it comes to Mexico's sovereignty, rejecting suggestions by Trump and others of intervention by the U.S. military. Also included in the group expelled Tuesday was Servando Gómez Martinez, also known as 'La Tuta,' a former school teacher who became one of Mexico's most-wanted drug lords as head of the Knights Templar cartel. He was captured in 2015 and sentenced to 55 years in a Mexican prison in June 2019. Gomez led the quasi-religious criminal group that once exercised absolute control over Michoacan and he liked to appear in interviews and videos. The cartel orchestrated politics, controlled commerce, dictated rules and preached a code of ethics around devotion to God and family, even as it murdered and plundered. Abigael González Valencia is the brother-in-law of CJNG leader Nemesio Rubén 'El Mencho' Oseguera Cervantes, a top target of the U.S. government. Abigael González Valencia was arrested in February 2015 in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco and had been fighting extradition to the United States since then. The U.S. government has offered a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to 'El Mencho's' arrest or conviction. Alongside his two brothers, Abigael González Valencia led 'Los Cuinis,' which financed the the founding and growth of the CJNG, one of the most powerful and dangerous cartels in Mexico. CJNG traffics hundreds of tons of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States and other countries and is known for extreme violence, murders, torture, and corruption. One of his brothers, José González Valencia, was sentenced in Washington's federal court in June to 30 years in a U.S. prison after pleading guilty to international cocaine trafficking. Jose González Valencia was arrested in 2017 under the first Trump administration at a beach resort in Brazil while vacationing with his family under a fake name.
