South Carolina – A man from Lexington County has been sentenced to federal prison time after officials found what prosecutors called a gruesome and well-organized dogfighting operation. Samuel Alexander Gray, 53, from Leesville, will spend 15 months in federal prison after confessing to running a dogfighting business and possessing firearms even though he had been convicted of felonies before. He will be under federal supervision for three years after he gets out of prison, and during that time he won’t be able to possess a dog.
In September 2023, animal services and officers from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department went to a rural farm after getting a tip about animals being abused. The things they found painted a troubling picture. Investigators found a dogfighting pit with a carpeted floor and lawn chairs set up as spectator seating. There was blood on the floor. There were dog-training supplies and even a printed rule book for fights nearby, which suggested that the operation was well-organized and ongoing.
Authorities also found a lot of dogs on the property, several of which were tied up with heavy chains and collars. Investigators said that these tools are often used to make canines stronger so they can fight. Some animals had wounds and scars that were clear signs of being attacked over and over. There was no way to get clean water or food, and there were also animal remains, including corpses and skulls, all around the location. A total of 14 dogs were saved from Gray’s property.
Along with the animals, the officers took six guns and about 400 rounds of ammo. Gray was not allowed to have any of them because he was a convicted felon. Prosecutors stated that the firearms, training gear, and hurt dogs showed how big and severe his actions were.
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Bryan Stirling, the U.S. Attorney, spoke out against the cruelty that was found during the investigation. He said that Gray put the animals through a “living nightmare” for fun and money. He thanked the FBI Columbia Field Office and the authorities in Lexington County for their help in finding out about the operation and moving the investigation forward.
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United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis handed down the sentence, noting that federal law offers no option for parole. The court also set harsh rules for Gray’s monitoring once he was released, such as not being able to possess dogs.
