U.S. Code » Title 18 » Part PART I— CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 3— ANIMALS, BIRDS, FISH, AND PLANTS

18 U.S.C. § 49

Enforcement of animal fighting prohibitions

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(a)In General.—Whoever violates subsection (a)(1), (b), (c), or (d) of section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, for each violation.(b)Attending an Animal Fighting Venture.—Whoever violates subsection (a)(2)(A) of section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2156) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, for each violation.(c)Causing an Individual Who Has Not Attained the Age of 16 To Attend an Animal Fighting Venture.—Whoever violates subsection (a)(2)(B) of section 26 (7 U.S.C. 2156) of the Animal Welfare Act shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 3 years, or both, for each violation.(Added Pub. L. 110–22, § 2(a), May 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 88; amended Pub. L. 110–234, title XIV, § 14207(b), May 22, 2008, 122 Stat. 1462; Pub. L. 110–246, § 4(a), title XIV, § 14207(b), June 18, 2008, 122 Stat. 1664, 2224; Pub. L. 113–79, title XII, § 12308(b)(2), Feb. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 991; Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12616(d), Dec. 20, 2018, 132 Stat. 5016.)Editorial NotesReferences in Text

Section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act, referred to in text, is section 2156 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Codification

Pub. L. 110–234 and Pub. L. 110–246 made identical amendments to this section. The amendments by Pub. L. 110–234 were repealed by section 4(a) of Pub. L. 110–246.

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–334 substituted “(d)” for “(e)”.

2014—Pub. L. 113–79 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, substituted “subsection (a)(1),” for “subsection (a),”, and added subsecs. (b) and (c).

2008—Pub. L. 110–246, § 14207(b), substituted “5 years” for “3 years”.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–334 effective on the date that is one year after Dec. 20, 2018, see section 12616(e) of Pub. L. 115–334, set out as a note under section 2156 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment of this section and repeal of Pub. L. 110–234 by Pub. L. 110–246 effective May 22, 2008, the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–234, see section 4 of Pub. L. 110–246, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8701 of Title 7, Agriculture.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 2012–2026 · leading case: United States v. Harry Hargrove, 701 F.3d 156 (4th Cir. 2012).
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United States v. Harry Hargrove, 701 F.3d 156 (4th Cir. 2012). “See 18 U.S.C. § 49 . Without a plea agreement, Hargrove pled guilty to the charge.”
United States v. Dajwan Ware, 858 F. App'x 499 (3d Cir. 2021). · cites it 7× “§ 2156 (a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 49 and in violation of 18 U.S.”
United States v. Shane Patrick Sprague, No. 20-13275 (11th Cir. Sept. 10, 2021). · cites it 3× “§ 2156 (a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 49 ; (ii) possess, train, sell, purchase, transport, deliver, and receive dogs for the same purpose, in violation of 7 U.”
LOVE v. United States, No. 3:22-cv-02768 (D.N.J. May 8, 2025). · cites it 3× “§ 2156 (a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 49 and in violation of 18 U.S.”
United States v. Jose Carrillo, No. 25-10722 (11th Cir. Mar. 16, 2026). · cites it 3× “18 U.S.C. §§ 49 (a), 371, 922(g)(1), 924(a)(8).”
United States v. Leslie Meyers, No. 21-13891 (11th Cir. Mar. 4, 2024). · cites it 2× “§ 2156 (a), (b) and 18 U.S.C. § 49 ; (2) and (3) transporting a dog for use in an animal fighting venture in violation of 7 U.”
United States v. Casillas-Montero, 152 F.4th 306 (1st Cir. 2025). · cites it 2× “§ 2156 and 18 U.S.C. § 49 . Casillas was arrested that same day.”
United States v. Anthony Gaines, No. 18-1545 (3d Cir. Apr. 3, 2019). “§ 2156 (b) in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 49 . The first issue Gaines raises is that Counts One and Three should have been grouped with Count Two under § 3D1.”
United States v. Kizzy Solomon, No. 21-13572 (11th Cir. June 28, 2022). “§ 2156 (b) and 18 U.S.C. §§ 49 and 2. Solomon, along with many other individuals, was charged in an indictment that arose from an animal fighting venture, alleged to have been orchestrated by Leslie Meyers.”
United States v. Jarvis Lockett, No. 22-10528 (11th Cir. Feb. 22, 2024). “§ 841 (b)(1)(C); 18 U.S.C. § 49 . Lockett objected to the application of the two-level enhancement for possessing a firearm in connection with the offense.”
United States v. Roosevelt Curry, No. 24-4170 (4th Cir. May 27, 2025). “§ 2156 (a); 18 U.S.C. § 49 (a). “[T]he term ‘animal fighting venture’ means any event, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, that involves a fight conducted or to be conducted between at least 2 animals for purposes of sport, wagering, or entertainment.”
United States v. Harry Hargrove, No. 11-4818 (4th Cir. Dec. 12, 2012). “See 18 U.S.C. § 49 . Without a plea agreement, Hargrove pled guilty to the charge.”
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