Five Co-Defendants Who Were Charged After Raid on Dogfighting Ring, in Which 45 dogs Were Rescued, Will be Prosecuted in Federal Court

Posted on 6/17/2016

Defendant: Charles Antoine Rodriquez Granberry, Dwayne T. Robinson, Anthony D. McGuffie, Henry Gerard Hames Hill, Jr. and Randall J. Frye

Prosecutor O’Brien stated, “Dogfighting is not a sport, it is a criminal activity in which two dogs are pitted against each other in a fight which generally ends in the death or serious injury of one of the dogs, all for the entertainment of spectators and for profit of the dog owner.”  Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Ron O’Brien today announced the United States Attorney’s Office has agreed to seek federal charges against five co-defendants -- Charles Antoine Rodriquez Granberry, Dwayne T. Robinson, Anthony D. McGuffie, Henry Gerard Hames Hill, Jr. and Randall J. Frye.  The five men were originally charged in state court, under the state dogfighting statute, after an early morning raid on April 5th of this year.  The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office requested a dismissal of the state charges in order to allow the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute the defendants under the federal dogfighting statute, which carries a possible sentence of 5 years.  The state statute carries a possible penalty of only 18 months.    O’Brien commended the Columbus Police Department and the Capital Area Humane Society on their lengthy investigation.  “Those who pay to attend and gamble on the fights at these dogfighting venues are guilty of contributing to the success of the event and should be held accountable for their participation in these criminal acts,” said Ron O’Brien.  Additional charges are expected once the investigation is completed.