VIRGINIA -- A Nathalie man who was arrested in an April 2011 raid of a dog-fighting ring has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison following a hearing Thursday in U.S. District Court in Danville.
Jonathan “Scooter” Williams (Scooter Williams) earlier had pleaded guilty to cocaine distribution, firearms possession charges and conspiracy to sell or transfer a dog with the intent of participating in animal fighting.
Senior U.S. District Judge Jackson L. Kiser ordered the 15-year-plus term for Williams and slapped him with a $600 fine, $100 for each of his six guilty pleas. He was also placed on six years probation after his release from prison.
Williams and a second Nathalie man, Jermaine Thaxton, were arrested following the raid of two Nathalie residences on April 20. Police and animal welfare organizations recovered 41 dogs believed to be part of a dog-fighting ring.
The dogs were found at a mobile home residence at 1056 Doctor Lacy Trail; authorities also raided a residence on Golden Leaf Road.
Thaxton pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to sell a dog for participation in animal-fighting operation.
(SoVaNow - January 20, 2012)
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