A Glen Burnie man has entered a guilty plea to federal charges related to a vile practice of dogfighting and aiding in a racketeering enterprise. Mario Flythe, 50, has been convicted of conspiracy to engage in animal fighting and interstate travel in the pursuit of racketeering activities. His connection was to an enterprise shared with his co-defendant, Frederick Douglass Moorfield, Jr., as reported by the Justice Department.
According to a Justice Department release, Flythe used his residence to breed, train, and prepare dogs for fighting under the pseudonym "Razor Sharp Kennels." The exposure of this operation provides a window into a world where the lives of animals are gambled and tossed aside. Examination of Flythe's cell phone raised the curtain on his activities, revealing extensive communication concerning the arranging of dogfights, interim training regimes, and the management of illicit wagers.
The practice of hooking a fight involved Flythe's declaration of the weight and sex of his dog, arranging wagers, and establishing the fight date, typically set six to eight weeks in advance. Furthermore, the terms of the contest were calculated in brutality, with fights concluding only upon the death of a dog or a forfeiture by the dog's owner.
Investigators, acting on gathered intelligence, raided Flyte's home on September 6, 2023. They discovered seven pit bull-type dogs, some shackled to posts and others in metal cages, with the majority living in neglect and squalor. These living conditions, contaminated water bowls, and prevalence of fleas painted a stark picture of the cruelty at hand, Flythe acknowledged that these dogs were bred and trained expressly for fighting.
Flythe could face up to five years in federal prison, with sentencing scheduled for October 24. While acknowledging that sentencing outcomes often fall below the maximum, it will be up to U.S. District Court Judge Richard D. Bennett to render a final decision. The case elicited praise from U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the FBI, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, and other investigative bodies for their efforts in unraveling this illicit operation.
