Two men face federal charges after authorities said they ran a years-long dog-fighting operation that bred, trained, and sold pit bull dogs for organized fights.
A federal indictment that was unsealed on June 22 charges Juelz Christopher Daniels, 19, and Reginald Lionel Goodson Jr., 55, from Statesville, North Carolina—a city right outside of Charlotte—with conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act. Daniels also faces additional counts tied to possession, training, sale, and interstate advertising of fighting dogs.
Prosecutors allege that for the past five years, from January 2021 through May 2026, the defendants maintained properties where they bred, housed, and conditioned dogs intended for fighting.
According to the indictment, the operation included equipment such as treadmills, bite sticks, heavy metal chains, animal hides, spring poles, and flirt poles, used to “increase the dogs' strength and stamina.”
“It’s unbelievable people still engage in dog-fighting activities,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We are here to protect innocent animals from the abuse and suffering that comes with dog fighting.”
Law enforcement officials said search warrants executed at three residences led to the seizure and rescue of 25 pit bull-type dogs, including puppies, along with breeding materials and other items associated with dog-fighting operations.
The indictment also alleges that the defendants selectively bred dogs for traits such as “aggressiveness and propensity to fight other dogs” or a “willingness to continue fighting another dog despite traumatic or mortal injury, among others.”
Hoodwoods Kennels is one of the kennels the defendants are alleged to have used. Prosecutors alleged that Daniels advertised dogs in Facebook groups dedicated to illegal dog fighting, promoting pedigrees and bloodlines, and referencing champion fighting dogs.
Prosecutors said Daniels posted a photo of a young pit bull-type dog on a chain with a pedigree link captioned, "[y]ou will hear about him soon." The pedigree included notations like "2XW," "POR," and "ROM," which indicate a two-time winner or a dog honored for producing champion offspring—terms meant to boost sales and pricing in dog-fighting circles.
The defendants also communicated through Facebook Messenger about pricing, sales, transfers, and training details for the dogs.
“When the FBI investigates illegal dog‑fighting operations, we’re not just stopping cruelty, we are disrupting violent criminal networks that harm both people and animals,” said Reid Davis, the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge.
Both men remain in federal custody. If convicted, each faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act. Daniels could get extra time for other charges involving the sale and possession of fighting dogs, prosecutors said.
Anyone with tips on animal fighting is asked to contact law enforcement or the USDA Office of Inspector General hotline at 1-800-424-9121 or online.