Local man gets 10-year prison term for dog fighting, drug trafficking

Two Georgia men, one of whom is from Houston County, were sentenced this week for their involvement in a multi-state cocaine trafficking operation and the parts they played in a heinous dog-fighting ring.

Warner Robins resident, Jarvis Lockett (age 41) received a sentencing of 10 years (120 months) in prison and three years of supervised release. It is important to note that there is no parole in the federal system. Lockett pleaded guilty to conspiring to participate in the illegal animal fighting venture and the distribution of the cocaine.

His co-defendant is named as 51-year-old Christopher Raines of Talbotton, Georgia. For his part, Raines was handed a sentence of 135 months in prison with five years supervised release. Additionally, Raines was ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.

According to court documents, the criminal organization, which operated from May 2019 until February 2020, was based out of Roberta, Georgia but extended as far as North Georgia, Florida and Alabama. In February 2020, a total of 15 residential search warrants were executed by law enforcement and resulted in the seizure of more than 150 dogs that had been used for organized dog fighting purposes.

Lockett attended events during the operational time period and had his dogs participate in fights that took place in Melrose, Florida and Macon, Georgia, where he also actively participated as a referee. Additionally, it is reported that Lockett either participated or attempted to participate in other dog fights that occurred in Taylor County, Georgia as well as Eastman and Shiloh, Georgia where he received $16,000 for his winning dog.

The search warrant that was executed on Lockett’s cell phone revealed text messages that detailed his dog-fighting ventures. Discovered also, were communication exchanges between Lockett and several defendants regarding killing an unaggressive dog, planning a dog fight and soliciting a female dog for fighting for $10,000. Other text messages discussed purchases of large quantities of cocaine and spending $250,000 on narcotics from one co-defendant by the name of Derrick Owens.

On July 10, 2019, and again on September 12, 2019, a confidential informant (CI) purchased cocaine from Lockett at a family home in Roberta, Georgia. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on that home on February 26,2020 and recovered cocaine, cash and evidence of dog fighting activities such as veterinary penicillin, break sticks, a dog weight training vest, a dog treadmill, photos of fighting dogs, a dog fighting pit and blood-stained carpet and walls. Fourteen dogs that bore scarring consistent with dogs being used for dog fighting activities were also recovered.

According to official reports, one dog—a pit bull terrier—was extremely injured and lethargic. His wounds had been stapled shut. That dog died two days later.

“What started out as a local investigation soon turned into a complex investigation that included people from multiple states and all walks of life,” said Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese. “It is impossible to comprehend just how cruel these dogs were being treated for the purpose of training them to kill. Our team rescued 168 pit bulls during the execution of the warrants and not the first dog acted aggressively toward the officers,” Deese stated. “The dogs just wanted attention and love. Organized dog fighting is a dark, sick and disgusting culture that has no place in our society.”

Of the two Georgia men, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division stated, “Lockett and Raines were conspirators in a crime enterprise that profited from the suffering of both animal and human victims. Dog fighting is closely associated with other serious crimes,” he continued, “and today’s sentences show that those who engage in this cruel and inhumane practice face significant prison time.”

Peter D. Leary is U.S. Attorney of the Middle District of Georgia. As a part of his statement following the sentencing, he pointed out the multi-state investigation began with Lockett, who Leary described as an “active and aggressive participant in the dog-fighting world.” Further, Leary shared, “Federal, state and local law enforcement meticulously followed every lead, and their unwavering commitment to justice has put an end to a complex and deadly dog-fighting and drug distribution network.”

Leary revealed that violent dog-fighting circles are proven breeding grounds for a wide-range of criminal activities that harm the well being of our communities, and he assured that they “will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Georgia.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG), U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, Houston County Sheriff’s Office, Merriweather County Sheriff’s Office, Peach County Sheriff’s Office, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Byron Police Department and the Fort Valley Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Banu Rangarajan with the Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case.

U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III presided over both hearings.

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