A Jacksonville drug investigation uncovered something officers did not expect to find behind a Northwest Jacksonville home. A 9-foot alligator was confined in the backyard, while nine dogs and evidence of illegal animal fighting were discovered across two properties.
According to the Fourth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office, a Duval County jury found Marquis Williams guilty of animal-fighting, animal-cruelty, drug and alligator-related charges. The verdict was announced on Aug. 6, more than a year after officers searched his Orlando Avenue home on May 20, 2025.
Williams now faces as many as 65 years in Florida State Prison, although his sentence has not yet been determined. The prosecutor’s release confirms that officers recovered six dogs and a large adult alligator from Williams’ property before finding three more dogs across the street…