Man Pleads Guilty in Animal Fighting Case

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. of the Western District of New York announced today that Leon Nelson, also known as Bruno, 41, of Buffalo, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Chief Judge William M. Skretny, to a felony charge of sponsoring an animal in an animal fighting venture. Sponsoring an animal in an animal fighting venture carries a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and a term of three years' supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that the defendant on or about June 20, 2009, sponsored and exhibited an animal in an animal fighting venture for the purposes of sport, wagering, and entertainment, specifically the defendant allowed a dog he controlled named “EJ” to enter into a dog fight with another dog named “Batman.” The defendant wagered and lost approximately $4,000 on the fight.

The plea was the culmination of an investigation on the part of Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of James H. Robertson, Special Agent-in-Charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for August 4, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. EST, in Buffalo, N.Y., in front of U.S. District Chief Judge William M. Skretny.