Horrific undercover video shows two pit bulls 'fighting to the death' in dogfighting ring - as federal agents indict eight people and rescue 100 dogs in Florida
- WARNING: Graphic images
- An undercover informant recorded video that shows two pitbulls engaged in a bitter fight to the death in a wooded area near Tallahassee
- A second clip was taken by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection aircraft in February and shows an overhead view of the fighting
- The infrared footage and the second clip were both presented at the detention hearing of eight people from the Tallahassee
- Investigators say that the eight suspects participated in a large-scale illegal dogfighting operation in northern Florida from 2014 through 2019
- Alleged ringleader, 31-year-old Jermaine 'Tank' Hadley, was detained in May on federal drug trafficking charges
- Raids conducted across northern Florida led to the rescue of almost 100 dogs
Shocking video obtained by an undercover informant shows the violent and horrific proceedings of a Florida dogfighting ring.
The clip, filmed at a wooded area near Tallahassee, shows two pit bulls engaged in a bitter fight to the death as a group of spectators look on.
'The clip very vividly describes the level of cruelty and depravity,' Eric Mountin, an assistant U.S. attorney in the Northern District of Florida, said to NBC News.
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An undercover informant recorded video that shows two pitbulls engaged in a bitter fight to the death in a wooded area near Tallahassee
'It's not unusual for these things to go on for hours. If you don't see [it], you can't fully appreciate the cruelty.'
A second clip was taken by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection aircraft in February and shows an overhead view of the fighting.
The infrared footage and the second clip were both presented at the detention hearing of eight people from the Tallahassee.
Investigators say that the eight suspects participated in a large-scale illegal dogfighting operation in northern Florida from 2014 through 2019.
A second clip was taken by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection aircraft in February and shows an overhead view of the fighting
Alleged ringleader, 31-year-old Jermaine 'Tank' Hadley, was detained in May on federal drug trafficking charges. He was arrested along with three others at the time.
Alleged ringleader, 31-year-old Jermaine 'Tank' Hadley, was detained in May on federal drug trafficking charges. He was arrested along with three others at the time.
The other seven suspects named in the dogfighting indictments include: 27-year-old Devar Donaldson, 23-year-old Sariem McMillian, 47-year-old Randell Colston, 35-year-old Bob Streets, 35-year-old Zanntayfey Bennett, 45-year-old Dennis Howard and 37-year-old Leonard Safford.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida released the videos in an effort to track down other members of the operation.
18 months ago, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration began looking into drug trafficking in the area.
Agents soon learned of the dogfighting while listening in on wiretaps communication.
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Other suspects arrested included Devar Donaldson (left), Sariem McMillian (center) and Randell Colston (right)
Zanntayfey Bennett and Dennis Howard were also detained
Leonard Safford (left) and Bob Streets (right) were among the eight arrested
'We became more aware that dogfighting was a significant side enterprise, so to speak, that this group was involved with,' Mountin added.
Raids conducted across northern Florida resulted in the rescue of almost 100 dogs. Investigators say one of the suspects left a dog in a pool unattended for training. The dog drowned.
On May 14, agents conducted a raid and recovered 'a couple more dogs,' noting that there was a bloody fighting pit. But Mountin shared that they didn't detain any suspects during the raid.
'Our approach gave them a heads-up law enforcement was busting up the fight, and they scattered literally into the woods,' Mountin said.
Investigators say that the eight suspects participated in a large-scale illegal dogfighting operation in northern Florida from 2014 through 2019
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