Texas man indicted for sponsoring dog fighting in Kansas City

U.S. Department of Justice

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

Vertrick Jordan, 47, 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 Sept. 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 ten 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 (KS) Police Department, the Harrison County (MO) 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 and 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.

They are innocent until proven guilty.