A North Carolina man was sentenced yesterday to two years and three months in federal prison for his involvement in a large-scale, multi-state dogfighting operation.
Charles Reginald McDougald, 55, also known by the aliases “Luke” and “Bottom Boy,” was sentenced for his role in a dogfighting ring that operated from at least March 2015 through December 2022.
According to court documents, McDougald and other conspirators spanning states including Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and North Carolina, used a private messaging app group called “The DMV Board” or “The Board” to facilitate their illegal activities.
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Members of “The Board” utilized the messaging platform to discuss methods for training fighting dogs, share videos related to dogfighting, and coordinate and arrange dog fights.
Disturbingly, court documents also reveal that members used the app to compare ways to kill dogs that lost fights and circulated media reports about conspirators who had been apprehended by law enforcement, discussing tactics to avoid detection.
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McDougald specifically posted multiple offers within the group to arrange dogfights for thousands of dollars per fight.
McDougald’s sentencing is the latest in a series of prosecutions targeting the dogfighting ring. To date, 19 of his fellow members of “The DMV Board” have also been convicted and sentenced.
The broader investigation has led to numerous convictions and sentences over several years.
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