Baltimore, Maryland — U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has sentenced Frederick Douglass Moorefield Jr., 64, of Arnold, Maryland, to 18 months in federal prison for his involvement in a multi-state dogfighting operation. The sentencing also includes six months of home detention, a $20,000 fine, and a forfeiture money judgment of $21,576. Moorefield will serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.
Investigation Began with Gruesome Discovery
The case against Moorefield unfolded after Anne Arundel County Animal Control responded to a report in November 2018 of two deceased dogs found inside a plastic dog food bag in Annapolis, Maryland. Investigators discovered mail addressed to Moorefield in the bag, and a necropsy revealed wounds consistent with dogfighting.
Federal authorities linked Moorefield to the “DMV Board,” a dogfighting ring operating in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Over a 20-year span, Moorefield, operating under the kennel name “Geehad Kennels,” bred, trained, and fought dogs at his Arnold residence.
Evidence Uncovered
A review of Moorefield’s phone and iCloud accounts revealed extensive communication with other members of the DMV Board. Messages detailed arrangements for dogfights, wagers, breeding, and training. They also included discussions about criminal investigations and potential informants within the group.
Moorefield used his property to house dogs in large metal cages and to stage “rolls,” test fights between dogs to evaluate their capabilities. During a search of Moorefield’s home in September 2023, federal agents recovered five pit-bull-type dogs, containers of animal medications, dog food, protein powder, and a blood-stained carpet used as a fighting arena.
Among the more disturbing discoveries was a device made from jumper cables and a standard electrical plug, which Moorefield used to electrocute dogs that lost fights.
Brutal Training and Fighting Practices
Court documents revealed the meticulous process Moorefield followed to prepare his dogs for fights. Training regimens, known as “keeps,” involved the use of treadmills, weighted collars, strict diet plans, and steroids obtained through illicit means.
Dogfights organized by Moorefield ended only when a dog died, “quit,” or its owner conceded the match by “picking up” the dog. If one of Moorefield’s dogs lost but survived, he often killed the animal himself.
Financial Transactions and Deception
Between January 2019 and October 2023, Moorefield used CashApp to send and receive payments related to dogfighting. To conceal these transactions, misleading labels such as “housewarming gift” were applied. Investigators determined that Moorefield had lived at the same address for more than 20 years, discrediting such deceptive labels.
Arrest and Sentencing
Moorefield, who was serving as the Deputy Chief Information Officer for Command, Control, and Communications at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, was arrested in September 2023.
His sentencing was the culmination of a collaborative investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and other local and federal agencies.
U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the investigators for their efforts, noting the significance of the case in addressing animal cruelty and organized crime.
Broader Implications
Moorefield is one of several individuals associated with the DMV Board who have faced prosecution for dogfighting. Authorities hope the case will serve as a warning about the severity of consequences for such activities.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Levin prosecuted the case.
