VALDOSTA — United States Attorney Michael J. Moore announced that Raymond Lee “Georgia Lee” Hendrix, of Echols County, and Willie Henderson, of Lowndes County, entered guilty pleas to a number of charges in United States District Court in Valdosta. The pleas were entered on Friday before the Honorable Hugh Lawson, Senior District Court Judge.

Hendrix pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor and exhibit a dog in an animal fighting venture. He faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, or both.

Henderson entered a plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and to sponsor and exhibit a dog in an animal fighting venture and to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His plea will subject him to a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, or both on the dog fighting charge and a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, a $250,000.00 fine, or both on the firearms charge.

In their plea agreements, Hendrix and Henderson admitted that between January 2008 and August 2013, they operated Clyattville Kennels, maintaining and training American Pit Bull Terriers for other dog fighters in exchange for a “tipping fee”, breeding and registering American Pit Bull Terriers and participating in organized dog fight gambling events throughout the Southeast. In addition, Mr. Henderson admitted to possessing a rifle and shotgun, after having been convicted of a felony.

Sheriff Randy Courson with the Echols County Sheriff’s Office stated, “This case has been years in the making with a lot of hard work and many man hours of agencies working together to eliminate the cruel and inhumane treatment of these animals for profit.”

The Court set a sentencing date for both men for September 23, 2015 at 9:30 am in Valdosta.