A senior Defense Department communications official has been arrested and charged with organizing an illegal betting dog fight in the District of Columbia. The Washington Post reports citing court documents.
“RT in Russian”, 10/03/2023, “WP: Pentagon official was detained and accused of organizing dog fighting”: It is noted that the detainee held the position of deputy head of the information service for control and communications under the chief information officer of the Secretary of Defense of the United States. — Insert K.ru
The defendant, 62-year-old Frederick Douglass Moorefield Jr., was arrested Sept. 28 on charges of running a dogfighting ring for 20 years along with a longtime friend who has allegedly already admitted to participating.
The two regularly trained dogs for fighting, placed thousands of dollars in bets and executed animals that were fatally injured during matches, court documents say.
“On September 6, the FBI, Department of Agriculture and other local and federal agencies searched the suspects’ homes and found weighted collars and metal chains used to increase the strength of fighting dogs. And also a device that is used for forced insemination of bitches. They also noticed numerous traces of dog blood in the home,” police found.
Additionally, court records revealed that investigators found battery jumper cables believed to be used to kill the animals, as well as five pit bull terriers at Moorefield’s home and five more at his friend’s home.
Both men were released by the court after being charged. The Pentagon said it was aware of the criminal case against Moorefield. The military department clarified that the accused no longer works for the Ministry of Defense.
US authorities have repeatedly received complaints against Moorefield and his partner. The FBI has been investigating the dog fighting ring for several years. Last year, some of its members were charged, the publication clarifies.
