GALLIA COUNTY, Ohio — Michael Valentine, a 40-year-old man from Bidwell, Ohio, was sentenced to 11 years in prison today after pleading guilty to charges of dogfighting and fentanyl distribution. The sentence includes nine months to be served concurrently and an additional 12 months consecutive to his existing 10-year term for drug charges.
Valentine had previously entered guilty pleas to two counts of raising and training dogs for fighting and five counts related to fentanyl distribution. His initial sentencing on Jan. 26, 2023, resulted in a 10-year prison term for the drug distribution charge, along with five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker emphasized the serious nature of Valentine’s crimes, which endangered both humans and animals. Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim from the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division commented on the barbaric nature of dogfighting, highlighting the significant punishment faced by those engaged in such practices.
Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Springer of USDA-OIG acknowledged the collaborative efforts with the Department of Justice, the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI in investigating Valentine’s activities, which included dogfighting and illegal possession of firearms.
The investigation, initiated in 2019 after a dog attack, led to the execution of search warrants at Valentine’s residence. The first search resulted in the seizure of 40 dogs and various dogfighting paraphernalia. A subsequent search in 2022, as part of a fentanyl-distribution investigation, uncovered additional evidence, including firearms, drugs packaged for distribution, and more dogs associated with Valentine’s dogfighting operation.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Inspector General (USDA-OIG), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with assistance from the Gallia County Sheriff’s Office. This investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) initiative, aimed at identifying, disrupting, and dismantling criminal organizations. More information about OCDETF can be found at [link].