COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A Columbus man with a prior criminal record will spend nearly five years in prison after pleading guilty to dogfighting and drug distribution charges.
According to federal prosecutors, Joel Brown admitted to keeping 11 pit bull-type dogs for fighting purposes in Franklin County, as well as possessing at least 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.
An investigation into Brown began in 2024 when law enforcement searched a property following a complaint to Columbus Humane about the conditions of dogs being housed by Brown. Dogs were observed kept outdoors on heavy chains, far enough away to prevent them from touching each other, but close enough to encourage aggression, prosecutors said…