Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Mario Damon Flythe, 50, from Glen Burnie, Maryland, to six months in federal prison followed by six months of home detention. This will be followed by three years of supervised release. Flythe was also fined $10,000 and required to pay an additional $2,800 in a forfeiture money judgment for his role in a multi-state dogfighting conspiracy.
The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Washington Field Office - Criminal and Cyber Division; Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard from the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General; Clinton Fuchs, U.S. Marshal for Maryland; and Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Chief.
Flythe was associated with the same dogfighting enterprise as co-defendant Frederick Douglass Moorfield Jr. He operated "Razor Sharp Kennels" and used his residence to keep, train, and breed dogs for fighting over several years.
Investigations into Flythe’s cellphone records revealed numerous message exchanges related to dogfighting via instant-messaging applications like WhatsApp and Telegram with members of a group called the “DMV Board.” These messages included arrangements for dog fights and wagers as well as discussions on breeding fighting dogs and procuring supplies necessary for their upkeep.
Messages also showed that Flythe arranged or “hooked” dogfights by identifying potential matchups based on weight and sex categories before agreeing on wagers and fight dates with other dogfighters. Training regimens involved physical exercises using treadmills and weighted collars along with dietary plans and steroids obtained through contacts within his network rather than legitimate veterinary prescriptions.
Fights sponsored by Flythe continued until a dog died or if an owner forfeited due to their dog's inability to continue fighting or being withdrawn by its owner. Between 2019 and 2023, Flythe received payments via CashApp related to these activities while also sending funds within his network.
On September 6, 2023, authorities searched Flythe’s home where they recovered seven pit-bull type dogs—four were found chained outside while three were kept inside cages in the basement. Flythe admitted he bred or trained these dogs specifically for participation in dogfights.
U.S. Attorney Barron commended several agencies including the FBI; U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; Defense Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Marshals Service; Anne Arundel County Police Department; Anne Arundel County Animal Control; and the U.S Attorney’s Office for Eastern District Virginia for assisting with this investigation. He also thanked Assistant U.S Attorney Alexander Levin who prosecuted this case.
For more details about the Maryland U.S Attorney’s Office initiatives or resources available visit www.justice.gov/usao-md or https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach
