UPDATE NAME: Alvin Banks, 55 WHERE: AKRON, Ohio CRIME: Akron man accused of organizing nationwide dogfighting ring now charged in federal court The man accused of organizing a nationwide dogfighting ring that drew 46 spectators from six states to his Akron home now faces federal charges. Alvin Banks, 55, is charged with animal fighting, cultivating marijuana, possessing a gun near a drug dealing operation, possessing a gun as a felon and conspiracy to sponsor and exhibit dogfighting in U.S. Northern District of Ohio Court. The criminal complaint was filed on Tuesday. U.S Magistrate Judge Kathleen Burke ordered Banks held without bond until a preliminary hearing and detention hearing scheduled for Dec. 4 in her Akron courtroom. A Summit County grand jury is reviewing charges against the other 46 charged in the case (cleveland/akron/index.ssf/2014/11/dozens_charged_in_connection_w.html). Banks, also known as Butch, organized the dogfights broken up by police, sheriff’s deputies and federal agents on Nov. 15 at Banks’ home in the 1100 block of Cordova Avenue, according to investigators. Akron police called the raid the largest dogfighting ring bust in recent history. Eight pit bulls were seized during the raid, including two bloodied dogs that were fighting in a 16-by-16 ring set up in the home’s two-car garage when some 100 officers raided the property, according to police and a federal affidavit. The dogs were taken to the Humane Society of Summit County. Akron police said at the time, it appeared dogfights occurred regularly at the home. They had a concession stand that sold drinks and hotdogs and extensive equipment for training dogs for fighting, police said. Investigators found 15 marijuana plants inside an enclosed back porch, according to the federal affidavit. They also found a .38-caliber revolver and a bag with six grams of suspected marijuana on the opposite side of the porch, the affidavit says. Inside Banks’ bedroom, investigators found a loaded shotgun under his bed near a jar containing 12 baggies of marijuana weighing more than 52 grams, the affidavit says. Police also seized more than $52,600 total and 11 vehicles, the affidavit says. Police found more than $30,000 littered on the ground after the raid as spectators fled from police. They also found training equipment inside a long metal storage shed along the side of the home, including treadmills, weighted collars and thick chains attached to pulleys that were used to hang a dog in order to strengthen their jaws. In a separate metal shed, investigators found equipment for weighing the dogs and cleaning them after the fights. They also had an area set up for betting inside the shed. Inside the ring set up in the garage, they found two prodding tools that looked like knives. Both had blood on them. The ring was caked in dried and fresh blood, the affidavit says. Outside the ring, investigators found two bloodied “break sticks” used to pry a dog’s mouth and teeth off another dog when the fight is finished, according to the affidavit. Several cages were set up in the backyard. Some of the vehicles found inside the yard had special cages to transport their dogs, including Banks’ Kia Manti, the affidavit says. Banks has a criminal history that includes marijuana related convictions and misdemeanor convictions from improperly registering or caring for pit bulls dating back to 1992. Banks was charged in Akron Municipal Court in 1992 with 18 misdemeanor counts relating to his three pit bulls, including failing to register the dogs or properly vaccinating them. He was charged with 43 counts relating to numerous pit bulls found on his property on Feb. 9, 2005, including 28 counts of failing to register pit bulls and one count of operating an illegal kennel. The same day, investigators discovered between 11 and 55 pounds of marijuana at his home. He eventually pleaded guilty to possessing the drug and was sentenced to one year on probation. Banks also agreed to forfeit $318 in drug money. Banks’ other criminal conviction came following a federal investigation that culminated in the indictment of 21 people accused of selling marijuana. Banks eventually pleaded guilty in that case to conspiracy to sell marijuana and was sentenced to two years and eight months in federal prison. Source: cleveland/
Posted on: Thu, 11 Dec 2014 04:56:37 +0000
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