COLUMBUS, Ohio – Randall J. Frye, 58, of Columbus, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiring to participate in a dog-fighting ring in central Ohio.
In November 2016, Charles A. Granberry, 40, of Columbus pleaded guilty to the same dog-fighting charge and to illegally possessing a firearm.
Benjamin C. Glassman, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Anthony Mohatt, Special Agent in Charge, Midwest Region, U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs, Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Ron O’Brien, and Capital Area Humane Society Executive Director Rachel D.K. Finney announced the plea entered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Terrance P Kemp.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers found dogs at the homes of Frye and Granberry. Each house was used to train, fight and sell dogs, including at least 20 fighting dogs in the rear yard and attic of one house and at least nine dogs at Frye’s residence, some that were chained to heavy automobile axles buried in the ground.
Officers executed search warrants on April 5, 2016 at five Columbus houses. Agents seized evidence including more than 40 dogs along with cages, treadmills, heavy chains and collars and other items. Agents found canine blood on the floor and walls of the basement of one home indicating that the area was used as a dog fighting pit.
Items seized specifically at Frye’s residence also included dog fighting publications, articles authored by Frye about his well-known fighting dogs “Stein” (circa 1987) and “Miles Davis” (circa 1997) and shipping documents showing interstate and international shipment of fighting dogs.
Frye was charged by a Bill of Information on February 16.
Conspiracy is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
U.S. Attorney Glassman commended the ongoing investigation by the USDA-OIG, Columbus Police and the Humane Society, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Michael Marous and Jessica Knight, and Franklin County Assistant Prosecutor Heather Robinson, who are representing the United States in this case.