Recently unsealed records reveal that an official from the Department of Defense now faces criminal charges related to a dog fighting ring. The federal government seized a total of 12 dogs from the suspect’s home in connection with the allegations.
Department of Defense official becomes focus of dog fighting investigation
According to ABC News, Fredrick D. Moorefield Jr. is the deputy chief information officer for command, control and communications. Under the pseudonym “GeeHad,” he allegedly used an encrypted messaging app to coordinate dog fights. He also discussed training dogs for fighting and shared dog fighting videos on the app.
According to a statement from the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s office, Moorefield was allegedly partaking in discussions about dog fight bets, dogs that passed away due to fighting, and dog fighters caught by authorities. Furthermore, Moorefield “also discussed how to conceal [his] conduct from law enforcement.”
In addition to sponsoring dogs involved in fights, Moorefield allegedly participated in a dog fighting league known as DMV Kennels, the DOJ shared in a statement.
Authorities gather evidence of dog fighting ring
In one gruesome incident from 2018, Moorefield allegedly discarded the corpses of two dogs killed on his property in Maryland. The dogs exhibited injuries that indicated participation in dog fighting. A piece of mail discovered with the dogs’ bodies led authorities to Moorefield.
Authorities searched two properties that belong to Moorefield and his co-defendant, a barber. In total, they seized 12 dogs. According to ABC News, Moorefield admitted to involvement in dog fighting during the property search.
Moorefield faces charges for possessing, training, or transporting animals for participation in an animal fighting venture. After his arrest, authorities found items indicating someone killed dogs after lost fights.
“Twelve dogs were recovered and seized by the federal government,” officials announced. “Law enforcement also recovered veterinary steroids, training schedules, a carpet that appeared to be stained with blood, and a weighted dog vest with a patch reading ‘Geehad Kennels.’ In addition, law enforcement officers seized a device consisting of an electrical plug and jumper cables, which the affidavit alleges is consistent with devices used to execute dogs that lose dogfights.”
If the DOJ is successful in convicting Moorefield, he will face a five-year maximum sentence in federal prison.
