BALTIMORE, MD—A Glen Burnie man has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for his involvement in a multi-state dogfighting conspiracy, authorities have announced.

Mario Damon Flythe, 50, will also serve six months of home detention followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and an additional $2,800 in a forfeiture money judgment.

Flythe is affiliated with the same dogfighting enterprise as co-defendant Frederick Douglass Moorfield, Jr. Flythe operated a kennel under the name “Razor Sharp Kennels” and used his home to keep, train, and breed dogs for fighting for several years, according to the Department of Justice.

Investigators reviewed Flythe’s phone records which uncovered numerous messages about dogfighting on instant-messaging apps WhatsApp and Telegram with members of a group known as the “DMV Board.”

The messages showed that Flythe and the DMV Board arranged dogfights and wagers, discussed the breeding and training of fighting dogs, and procuring supplies for the maintenance and feeding of fighting dogs. They also talked about law enforcement prosecuting dogfighters and speculated about the identity of a potential “snitch,” according to authorities.

Flythe’s instant messages disclosed exchanges arranging dogfights. He would identify the weight and sex of the dog he wanted to sponsor in a fight, and other dogfighters would propose a fight against their own dog or matched Flythe with another contact. Dogfighters would wager and schedule a fight date, usually six to eight weeks after arranging the match.

Flythe trained his dogs in a process known as a “keep,” which involved physical training using treadmills, weighted collars, and other accessories, a diet plan, and steroids.

Authorities said that Flythe obtained steroids and other veterinary drugs through dogfighting contacts instead of legitimate prescriptions.

Flythe sponsored a dog fight until the dog died or the owner forfeited by surrendering the dog or removing it from the ring.

Between 2019 and 2023, Flythe received and sent money through CashApp for dogfighting activities.

On September 6, 2023, investigators searched Flythe’s home, recovering seven pit-bull type dogs. Four dogs were chained to posts or poles in fenced-in cages in the backyard, and three dogs were in large metal cages in the basement. Flythe admitted to breeding and training dogs for dogfights.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels