PANA CITY, Fla. — Two Bay County men pleaded guilty to federal charges related to years of organized dog combat operations, with one admitting to illegally owning a firearm.
Fredrix White, 38, and Cornelias Johnson, 41, of Panama City, have been charged with conspiracy charges including possession and training of a combat dog in violation of the Animal Welfare Act. In addition to animal cruelty charges, White pleaded guilty to possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, according to a statement from lawyer John P. Hekin of the Northern District of Florida.
Federal court records show between 2018 and February 2024, White and Johnson were involved in criminal conspiracies, including breeding and training dogs for illegal fights, and involved operating dog combat compounds on rural property in the Panama City area. The two were previously arrested in Georgia in 2022 for an illegal dog fight and were later faced with federal charges stemming from the incident.
In February 2024, law enforcement executed a federal arrest warrant and discovered two properties in Bay County, where men continued to fight and train dogs. When searching for White’s residence, three firearms also appeared. White was prohibited under federal law from possession of firearms after convictions dating back to 2009 and 2012 as a previously convicted felon.
“These defendants were engaged in the cruel and continuous abuse of animals, but now they will find themselves trapped in solitary cells because of their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Heakin. “Animal cruelty companies like this are not only wild bars, but are often tied to a broader pattern of community violence. They do not tolerate this cruelty in the Northern Florida area.”
The incident was the result of investigations from multiple agencies, including the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, the Alcohol Department, the Tobacco Department, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the US Department of Agriculture Generals Department, and the former US S-Service.
The prosecutor was led by U.S. Attorney Aide Meredith L. Steer with support from the Department of Justice’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division.
The case is part of Take Back America, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at fighting violent crime, dismantling criminal businesses, and protecting communities from cross-border criminal organizations.
