Three Florida men are facing federal prison time after a grand jury indicted them for allegedly possessing dogs for dog fighting rings and carrying illegal weapons. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the charges against Anthony Crosby, 42, of Keystone Heights, Leroy Halbert, 53, of Lake Butler, and a third co-defendant, Geer.
Federal prosecutors say the investigation dates back to an incident on December 10, 2025, when all three men allegedly possessed at least three dogs intended for dog fighting ventures. Crosby and Geer, both previously convicted felons, were also found in possession of firearms on that same day.
The arrests rolled out over the last two weeks. Authorities took Geer into custody on May 20, 2026, and a judge ordered him held without bail until his trial, which is currently set for July 2026. Law enforcement officers arrested Crosby and Halbert a few days later on May 29, 2026.
The legal stakes are high for all three defendants. Because of the combined animal fighting and weapons charges, Geer and Crosby each face a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. Halbert faces a maximum penalty of 15 years behind bars.
A multi-agency task force handled the investigation, combining resources from the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro is prosecuting the case.
According to federal legal guidelines, an indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty in a court of law.
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