Crime

Massachusetts man arrested on federal dogfighting charges

John Murphy, 50, of Hanson, is accused of violating the federal Animal Welfare Act by allegedly participating in dogfighting.

March 30, 2024

1 minute to read

A Massachusetts man was arrested Friday on federal charges for allegedly hosting dog fights out of his Hanson home.

John Murphy, 50, of Hanson, was indicted on nine counts of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

It’s the first time federal charges have been brought in Massachusetts under the Animal Welfare Act, according to officials.

Hanson’s arrest comes 10 months after federal agents searched his home and allegedly found several items that are often used in dog fighting, including anabolic steroids, a skin stapler, and forceps, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Officials said Hanson allegedly also had equipment and literature for training dogs to fight. During the search, agents seized 13 pitbulls that allegedly had injuries consistent with dog fighting, according to the statement.

Prosecutors say Hanson would frequently use Facebook to communicate with other dogfighters and even posted several dogfighting-related photos to his profile, including an image of a scarred pitbull and another of a dog restrained in a breeding stand.

According to the indictment, between 2019 and 2021, Murphy allegedly posted videos that depicted pit bull-type dogs tied to treadmills commonly used to train dogs for fighting.

For each charge, Murphy faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Individuals can report animal fighting crimes to local law enforcement or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General complaint hotline at usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.