Indictment: Texas Man Sponsored Dog Fighting

KANSAS CITY, KS—A Texas man has been indicted on a federal charge of sponsoring dog fighting, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Vertrick Jordan, 47, of Tyler, Texas, is charged with one count of conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture. The indictment alleges that Jordan conspired with two other men to engage in animal fighting. The men are Pete Davis, Jr., and Melvin L. Robinson, who are scheduled for sentencing September 9 after pleading guilty to a federal charge of transporting animals for participation in an animal fighting venture.

The indictment alleges Jordan and the others conspired to:

• Acquire, breed, and train pit bull dogs for the purpose of entering them in dog fights.
• Operate unlicensed kennels for pit bull dogs.
• Communicate between Kansas and Texas for the purpose of sponsoring dog fights.
• Collect forfeit fees from participants in dog fights.
• Sponsor and conduct illegal gambling and bookmaking activities as part of dog fights.
• Deny adequate and humane medical treatment to dogs injured and wounded in dog fights.
• Inhumanely abandon and destroy pit bull dogs who were severely injured in dog fights.

The indictment alleges that on March 23, 2013, Davis and Robinson left a motel where they were staying in Tyler, Texas, with a pit bull dog belonging to Robinson, and drove to Jordan’s residence in Tyler. They planned to enter the dog in an animal fighting venture. The animal fighting venture was a “two dog card” and a “grand championship” match in which each dog was required to have won four previous fights to qualify for the grand championship match. Jordan permitted a pit for dog fighting to be constructed on his property. Investigators observed two trophies next to the pit. Jordan maintained approximately 10 pit bull dogs on his property for the purpose of breeding them and selling them.

If convicted, Jordan faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.

The following agencies contributed to the investigation: The FBI, the Kansas City (Kansas) Police Department, the Harrison County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Texas Department of Public Safety—Narcotics and Highway Patrol, East Texas HIDTA, the FBI Dallas Division—East Texas Resident Agencies, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department—Game Wardens, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice—OIG, the Lindale Police Department, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, the Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tris Hunt is prosecuting.

Other Indictments

Sudhir Dodda, 37, of Allen, Texas, and Preetham Kodiripaka, 38, of Allen, Texas, are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud, four counts of making false statements on immigration documents, and one count of commercial carrier fraud and conspiracy to commit foreign labor contracting fraud. In addition, Kodiripaka is charged with 15 counts of mail fraud.

The indictment alleges Dodda and Kodiripaka, co-owners of INEK Technologies, LLC in Overland Park, Kansas, made false statements on documents they submitted in order to obtain H-1B specialty work visas for a dozen foreign workers. The crimes are alleged to have occurred at various times from October 2004 to the present in Johnson County, Kansas.

Upon conviction, the crimes carry the following penalties:

• Conspiracy: A maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
• Making false statements on immigration documents: A maximum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.
• Commercial carrier fraud and conspiracy to commit foreign labor contracting fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000.
• Mail fraud: A maximum penalty of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 on each count.

The U.S. Department of Labor-Office of the Inspector General, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Internal Revenue Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley is prosecuting.

Ian Sean Cahir, 40, Shawnee, Kansas, is charged with three counts of misuse of a Social Security number and three counts of aggravated identity theft. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in August 2010 and January 2011 in Shawnee, Kansas.

The indictment alleges Cahir used his 6-year-old son’s Social Security number.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison without parole and a fine up to $250,000 on each count of misusing a Social Security number; and a mandatory two years to run consecutively to the underlying sentence on each count of aggravated identity theft. The Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Jose Magana-Garcia, 42, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found July 23, 2013, in Sedgwick County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. ICE’s Enforcement Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Luis Zamarripa-Favela, 34, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found July 23, 2013, in Sedgwick County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. ICE’s Enforcement Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Martin Martinez-Perez, 39, a citizen of Mexico, is charged with unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported. He was found July 26, 2013, in Sedgwick County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. ICE’s Enforcement Removal Operations investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Anderson is prosecuting.

Joel M. Lopez, 32, Wichita, Kansas, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction. The crime is alleged to have occurred July 30, 2013, in Sedgwick County, Kansas.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Wichita Police Department investigated. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.

In all cases, defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The indictments merely contain allegations of criminal conduct.