Jose Miguel Carrillo from Spring Hill, Florida, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act’s dog fighting prohibitions and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Carrillo conspired to purchase, acquire, and breed dogs for dog fighting, staged fights at his home, and traveled to events in Massachusetts, Florida, and Connecticut.
A search warrant executed in June 2023 at Carrillo’s home led to the seizure of 10 pit bull-type dogs (most were later adopted), along with a firearm, ammunition, and dog fighting paraphernalia, including a bloodstained fighting box, a skin stapler, syringes, and injectable veterinary medications.
To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the USDA-OIG’s complaint hotline at: usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.
The USDA-OIG; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Pasco County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office and the Fitchburg (Massachusetts) Police Department investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, New Hampshire State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Senior Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Favorit and Tiffany Fields for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case. Trial Attorney Caitlyn Cook of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section assisted with the transfer of the seized dogs to new owners.
