ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KSDK) -- It was the largest dog fighting bust in U.S. history. Thirty people were arrested Wednesday, including 10 in the bi-state area. It all started with information gathered by the Humane Society of Missouri.
State, federal and local authorities raided operations in Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. Local law enforcement seized dogs in Leslie, Missouri and Centreville, Illinois.
A backhoe was just one of the things Federal investigators removed from a Centreville property.
There were also pit bulls and lots of them. Now they're at the center of a dog fighting investigation. One neighbor said he lived near the home for 10 years and was surprised by the allegations.
Witnesses said investigators arrived at the Centreville property around 6 a.m. Wednesday. Their work didn't end until nearly 7 p.m. One neighbor who didn't want to be identified said she is stunned.
"I didn't have a clue and he didn't seem like a person who would do something like that," said the neighbor.
Investigators are also looking into alleged dog fighting that occurred on property in East St. Louis where several dogs were removed Wednesday. There are also allegations of dog fighting at a home in the 1500 block of N. 52nd street in Washington Park. Another home involved in the dog fighting investigation is located in the 2200 block of N. 50th Street in Washington, Park.
"It's not right, you just don't do that to animals because that's not what they are here for," said an unidentified neighbor.
None of the investigators at the alleged dog fighting scenes would comment. The homeowners were also not talking.
A history-making operation
The U.S Attorney filed motions seeking to take legal ownership of the dogs and place the animals in the care of the Humane Society of Missouri. The U.S. Attorney wants the defendants to reimburse the Humane Society for all costs to care for the dogs.
The Humane Society calls this probably the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history. All pit bulls seized in Missouri and Illinois will be taken to a secure facility where the Humane Society can treat them. This is the largest sheltering operation in the history of Missouri Humane Society.
As for the future of the dogs, the Humane Society will make recommendations about each animal to the U.S. District Court which will make the final decision for each animal.
According to the indictment, between January 2008 and June 2009, Michael Morgan, Robert Hackman, Teddy Kiriakidis, Ronald Creach and Jack Ruppel were involved in animal fighting ventures and dog fighting competitions.
They allegedly established and ran various kennel operations that purchased, bred, trained, conditioned, and developed Pit Bull Terriers for participation in the animal fighting ventures.
Robert Hackman operated "Shake Rattle and Roll Kennel," Jack Ruppel operated "Ozark Hillbillys Kennel," Michael Morgan a.k.a. "Missouri Mike" operated "Cannibal Kennel," and Ronald Creach operated "Hard Goodbye Kennel."
The indictment alleges that the defendants routinely inhumanely abandoned, destroyed, and otherwise disposed of Pit Bull Terriers that lost fighting competitions, did not perform aggressively enough, or that became injured, wounded, or disabled as a result of participating in an animal fighting ventures.
In addition to the indictment unsealed today in the Eastern District of Missouri, 21 defendants were also charged in separate cases arising from the same investigation in the Western District of Missouri, the Southern District of Illinois and the Eastern District of Texas.
Metro East residents William Berry, Derrick Courtland, John Bacon, Julius Jackson and Joseph Addison were also named in the indictment. They all appeared before a federal judge, and have another court date in early August.
Most recently, in April, the indictment says the men staged a big fight at the property on Lakewood, but neighbors said they had no idea of what was going on. Thousands of dollars changed hands, according to an undercover investigator, and dogs that lost were disposed of.
Headed by the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General, this dog fighting investigation is the latest in a series of major animal fighting investigations conducted throughout the country since the passage of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, signed into law in May 2007, which makes it a felony to participate in the blood sport.
"The Humane Society of Missouri provided initial information that led to this investigation. During the course of the investigation they also cared for animals involved when possible, and they are presently designated to provide continuing care for the seized dogs," said Acting United States Attorney Michael Reap in a news release.
Details of the indictments are as follows:
- Michael Morgan, a.k.a. Missouri Mike, 38, Hannibal, MO, on two felony counts of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and one felony count of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures;
- Robert Hackman, 55, Foley, MO, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and two felony counts of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures
- Teddy Kiriakidis, a.k.a. Teddy Bogart, 50, Leasburg, MO, one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses;
- Ronald Creach, 34, Leslie, MO, one felony count of conspiracy to commit federal offenses
- Jack Ruppel, 35 Eldon, MO, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit federal offenses and two felony counts of prohibitions against animal fighting ventures.
If convicted, each count of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.
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