Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
A federal judge has imposed around 30 years’ imprisonment on more than a dozen members of a central Indiana gambling operation and dog-fighting ring — and 10 more remain to be sentenced, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana announced Monday.
Southern District Court Chief Judge James Sweeney II has imposed federal dog-fighting sentences on 13 defendants, all found guilty of conspiracy to engage in a dog-fighting venture, a federal felony.
The defendants are:
- Edward Bronaugh, 60, sentenced to three years and six months in prison and two years of supervised release;
- Marven Carswell, 73, sentenced to time served and two years of supervised release;
- James Croons, 37, sentenced to eight months imprisonment and two years of supervised release;
- Maurice Ervin, 46, sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release;
- Robert Hamer III, 43, sentenced to five years and five months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release;
- Ryan Hicks, 39, sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release;
- Brent Hutchinson, 45, sentenced to five years and six months’ imprisonment and four years of supervised release;
- Marvin Johnson Jr., 49, sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release;
- Willie Lee, 59, sentenced to one year and nine months imprisonment and two years of supervised release;
- Daymond Mason, 51, sentenced to two years and 10 months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release;
- Christopher Norfolk, 51, sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release;
- Charles Richardson III, 46, sentenced to three years and 10 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release; and
- Donovan Tipler, 33, sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment and two years of supervised release.
“These sentences mark a significant step toward securing justice against an escalating criminal threat,” Tom Wheeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, said in a press release Monday.
“Dog fighting is not only an unspeakable cruelty; it also harms the communities where it occurs by fueling illegal gambling and often intersecting with other criminal activity. The individuals involved in this operation demonstrated a shocking disregard for the suffering of these animals — conduct that aligns with the well‑established link between animal abuse and violence against people.”
According to the press release, while investigators were investigating a broader drug trafficking operation, they uncovered a large-scale dog-fighting and illegal gambling operation in Indianapolis in September 2023.
All of the 13 previously sentenced defendants maintained dogs for fighting or served as handlers, who are responsible for provoking the dogs during fights. Some defendants had more specific roles, including referee, trainer and breeder, driver and location scout, according to the press release.
To date, authorities say more than 100 dogs have been rescued from the defendants.
Videos recovered from the defendants’ cell phones and Facebook messages showed dogs suffering significant injuries during violent encounters that sometimes lasted several minutes. Some of the videos also showed dogs that were killed in the defendants’ care.
While conducting searches of the defendants’ residences, law enforcement found several firearms and ammunition as well as extensive amounts of dog-fighting paraphernalia, including canine medical supplies, training equipment, a scale and assorted collars and chains.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.