In recent developments, federal prosecutors in Maryland have brought charges against a Department of Defense communications official for his alleged involvement in running a long-standing dogfighting ring, complete with significant bets on brutal dog matches.
The accused, Frederick Douglass Moorefield Jr., a 62-year-old resident of Arnold, Maryland, held the position of deputy chief information officer for command, control, and communications within the Department of Defense. These allegations came to light through an affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore and information found on Mr. Moorefield’s LinkedIn page, indicating his 11-year tenure with the department.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland, Mr. Moorefield and his co-defendant, Mario Damon Flythe, a 49-year-old barber from Anne Arundel County, Maryland, communicated covertly via encrypted messaging apps. Their discussions revolved around various aspects of illegal dogfighting, including training dogs for combat, organizing dogfights, placing bets on these fights, and even discussing the deaths of dogs involved in such activities.
Operating under the aliases “Geehad Kennels” and “Razor Sharp Kennels,” Mr. Moorefield and Mr. Flythe managed their dogfighting operations while also strategizing with individuals across the United States on how to evade law enforcement scrutiny.
The affidavit reveals that Mr. Moorefield had been involved in dogfighting for roughly two decades. Informants cited in the document mention that he participated in dogfights as far back as 2009. Communication records referenced in the affidavit indicate that Mr. Moorefield actively sought contenders for dogfight matches among his associates.
Special Agent Ryan C. Daly of the FBI cited a list of fighting dogs associated with the “Geehad” name dating back to 2002, featuring dogs owned by Mr. Moorefield and others within the dogfighting community.
Both Mr. Moorefield and Mr. Flythe now face charges related to various aspects of their dogfighting operations, including buying, selling, delivering, possessing, training, and transporting animals for dogfighting ventures. They are also accused of using postal services and other means to promote these ventures, as well as conspiring to sponsor or exhibit animals in such fights. If convicted, they could each receive a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
Mr. Moorefield and Mr. Flythe made appearances in federal court in Baltimore, where they were released on bail pending trial. They have not commented on the charges.
Search warrants executed at the residences of both individuals on September 6 led to the recovery of 12 dogs, veterinary steroids, training schedules, a bloodstained carpet, a dog vest with a “Geehad Kennels” patch, and an electrical plug with jumper cables—often used in the execution of dogs that lose dogfights.
The investigation also revealed disturbing evidence in November 2018 when two dead dogs, exhibiting wounds and scarring consistent with dogfighting, were discovered in a plastic bag approximately six miles from Mr. Moorefield’s home. The bag also contained mail addressed to him.
The Pentagon acknowledged awareness of the criminal complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, stating that Mr. Moorefield is no longer employed there but refrained from providing further details.
These charges stem from evidence gathered during the August 2022 indictments of seven other individuals involved in chat groups on secure messaging apps, operating under the names “the DMV Board” or “the Board.” These groups were used to organize dog fights, and six of the defendants have already pleaded guilty to related charges.
Dogfighting is a cruel and illegal activity in which dogs are bred and forced to fight for the entertainment and profit of spectators. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates that hundreds of thousands of dogs are subjected to this brutality annually.
In 2019, the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act was enacted, making intentional acts of animal cruelty federal crimes with penalties of up to seven years in prison. While federal law already prohibited sponsoring animal fights, the 2019 law was introduced to address cases of animal abuse that cross state lines.
Stacy Wolf, a senior vice president at the ASPCA, emphasized that this case underscores the prevalence of dogfighting and the need for stronger laws to combat it. She highlighted that law enforcement agencies are more likely to intervene when they have confidence that animal protection agencies can care for seized animals, ultimately saving more animals from such cruel activities. Additionally, she stressed that dogfighting poses public safety risks and often involves criminal activities like illegal gambling, drug possession, and firearm possession.
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