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Eldon Man Pleads Guilty to Dog-Fighting Conspiracy

U.S. Attorney’s Office September 04, 2009
  • Western District of Missouri (816) 426-3122

JEFFERSON CITY, MO— Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Eldon, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a dog-fighting conspiracy and to selling dogs for fighting purposes.

Jack Ruppel, 35, of Eldon, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge William A. Knox this morning to the charges contained in a July 1, 2009 federal indictment. Ruppel was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Missouri, but his case has been transferred to the Western District of Missouri.

Ruppel, who operated Ozark Hillbillies Kennel, admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to buy, sell, possess, train or transport animals for participating in animal fighting ventures and to use the mail to promote and advertise the venture between January 2008 and June 2009. Ruppel also pleaded guilty to selling an animal for participation in an animal fighting venture.

Beginning sometime before 2008, Ruppel became involved in breeding, raising, training and selling dogs for participation in animal fighting ventures. Through his dog kennel operation, Ruppel bred, trained, conditioned and developed pit bull terriers both for participation in animal fighting ventures and to represent himself in animal fighting ventures and dog fighting competitions.

In today’s plea agreement, Ruppel specifically admitted that he attended or participated in 10 dog fights between July 19, 2008, and April 18, 2009, including one dog fight at his residence, and that he wagered money on some dog fights.

Ruppel admitted that he killed some of his dogs who would not fight, or had not fought well enough to meet expectations.

Ruppel sold a female pit bull terrier along with a fighting pit bull terrier (identified as “Nickle”) to an undercover law enforcement officer for a total sales price of $5,000. Ruppel also sold a fighting pit bull terrier (identified as “Winchester”) to an undercover law enforcement officer for $400. Ruppel also sold and delivered a treadmill to the officer for $700, believing and intending that the treadmill would be used to train pit bull terriers for participation in animal fighting ventures. Ruppel also delivered a mixture or substance identified as an anti-inflammatory steroid, dextromethasone, intending it to be administered to pit bull terriers to treat injuries sustained from participating dog fighting activities.

On July 8, 2009, search warrants were executed at Ruppel’s residence. Agents seized a number of pit bull terriers that had been bred, conditioned and kept for purposes of participating in animal fighting ventures. Agents also seized numerous items and paraphernalia associated with animal fighting ventures and dog fighting, including a breeding stand; dog fighting literature, magazines, and pictures; numerous firearms; breeding pedigree logs and documentation regarding fighting dogs; a treadmill used to run and otherwise condition dogs for fighting purposes; scales used to weigh fighting dogs; and pulling harnesses, chains, and weights that are affixed to dogs for pulling to build muscles, enhance joints, improve endurance, and aid in overall conditioning of fighting dogs.

By pleading guilty today, Ruppel agreed to forfeit to the government all of the animals, money, weapons, animal fighting paraphernalia, property and assets seized by law enforcement officials during their investigation.

Under federal statutes, Ruppel is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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