Two accused of being part of dog-fighting ring

Federal authorities have charged two area men with being part of a huge multi-state dog-fighting ring.
Michael Morgan of Hannibal and Robert Lee Hackman of Foley are among five Missouri suspects accused of breeding and training pit bulls to fight, then killing the animals if they got hurt or failed to perform.
Morgan, 38, and Hackman, 55, each are charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit federal offenses.
Morgan, whom authorities say was nicknamed “Missouri Mike” in the shadowy world of dog fighting, also is accused of violating the federal law against animal-fighting ventures.
The U.S. Attorney’s office claims Morgan ran “Cannibal Kennel” just south of Hannibal and that Hackman ran “Shake, Rattle and Roll Kennel” near Foley to provide pit bulls for fights.
The Hannibal city clerk’s office showed no record of a business license issued under “Cannibal Kennel” or under Morgan’s name.
A check with local veterinarians and animal businesses failed to find anyone who knew of Morgan.
“I’ve never heard of the guy,” said Kurt Groenda of the Northeast Missouri Humane Society in Hannibal.
The results were similar for Hackman. The Lincoln County collector’s office had no record of a business license for “Shake, Rattle and Roll Kennel” or for Hackman.
However, court records show Hackman was arrested June 24 by Lincoln County authorities on five misdemeanor counts of animal neglect from incidents that allegedly took place on Aug. 26, 2008.
The case is scheduled for arraignment at 9 a.m. Aug. 4.
The other Missouri men arrested as part of the investigation were 50-year-old Teddy Kiriakidis of Leasburg, 34-year-old Ronald Creach of Leslie and 35-year-old Jack Ruppel of Eldon.
More than 150 pit bulls were seized and turned over to the Missouri Humane Society.
Another 150 dogs were put into shelters in other states. Five suspects from Illinois and another 11 from Iowa, Nebraska, Texas and Oklahoma were arrested.
Federal authorities are seeking a court order that would require the defendants to pay for the animals’ care.
The indictment alleges that Morgan and Hackman routinely abandoned or destroyed pit bulls that lost fights, were not aggressive enough or were injured.
The wounded dogs were shot in the head. The bodies were thrown into a river or burned in a barrel.
The Humane Society of the United States says dog fights average an hour in length and can last as long as two hours.
They end when one of the dogs can’t continue, and often result in the death of one or more animal within in a few hours.
The Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, signed into law in May 2007, makes participation in a fight a felony.
“Forcing a dog to fight to its death is not a sport,” John V. Gillies, a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said in a statement. “There is nothing respectable about encouraging two animals to torture and dismember each other.”
If convicted, the suspects could be sentenced to five years in prison and fined $250,000 on each count.
What’s next: Bond hearings for the suspects.