Published on: April 16, 2026, 04:34h.
Updated on: April 16, 2026, 04:34h.
- Federal authorities connect dogfighting operations to organized illegal wagering.
- Investigators unveil years of match planning, bets, and coordination activities.
- Search operations uncover dogs, paraphernalia, and suspected evidence of cruelty.
Federal authorities have revealed that an illicit gambling network centered around dogfighting thrived for years in southeastern Massachusetts.
Corey Elliott, 49, from Carver, Massachusetts, was apprehended this week and now faces charges for conspiring to take part in an animal fighting venture, as per the US Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts.
The federal complaint suggests that Elliott and his accomplice, John Murphy from Hanson, Massachusetts, maintained frequent communication over several years.
Corpses Discarded in the Harbor
The two regularly discussed betting, tracking match results, and coordinating which dogs would fight in specific events, a pattern prosecutors indicate displays a systematic, profit-focused organization. Also, they deliberated on methods for disposing of the deceased dogs.
“Now I just toss them [the dead dogs] into Boston Harbor. When I’m at work, I simply bag them up and throw them in the river,” Elliott reportedly said in November 2020.
Previously, in August 2018, Elliott told Murphy, “[This dog] is going to be dead soon. I can’t stand this dog… when you go out there and hit her, she screams like she’s being murdered. So, I went outside with a stick and beat her senseless.”
The individuals operated under the kennel alias “The No Name Gang,” seeking to establish credibility and reputation within the dogfighting sphere, according to prosecutors.
In June 2023, authorities executed a search at Murphy’s residence, retrieving dogs and equipment typically associated with dogfighting. They also confiscated a phone that contained fight videos and communications dating back several years, discussing bets and outcomes.
Signs of Fighting
A subsequent search of Elliott’s property in Carver in June 2025 revealed further evidence. Agents discovered multiple pit bull-type dogs, some bearing injuries indicative of fighting, along with training tools, veterinary supplies, and pedigrees.
Officials allege that Elliott actively organized and hosted events, including at his residence.
According to prosecutors, both men implemented strategies to evade detection, using coded terms, hiding dogs from plain sight, and advising each other on evading law enforcement and animal control.
Last year, Murphy entered a guilty plea to nine counts of possessing animals intended for fighting and was sentenced to one year and one month in prison. Federal officials characterized it as the first case of its kind in Massachusetts.
Elliott is facing charges that could lead to a maximum sentence of five years in prison, alongside possible fines that could reach $250,000.