In an unexpected turn of events, Frederick Douglass Moorefield Jr., the Deputy Chief Information Officer for Command, Control, and Communications, for Office of the Secretary of Defense, has been charged with illegal animal fighting, according to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
Moorefield, it appears, had been running a dogfighting ring and was advising his associates to move all communications to Telegram because it uses encryption. The unfortunate reality for Moorefield is that encryption is not fail-safe in the face of robust investigations. The FBI managed to piece together evidence from various sources, including Moorefield’s own Telegram account, which revealed conversations with multiple dogfighting cohorts, stated in the affidavit included in the complaint.
Further unsettling details were unearthed during a search of Moorefield’s residence. Investigators discovered an apparatus, specifically a device made up of jumper cables attached to an electrical plug, commonly used to euthanize dogs that lose in fights.
In conversation with the Washington Post, a Pentagon spokesperson stated that Moorefield “is no longer in the workplace,” but declined to comment further on the matter due to its personal nature. The Washington Post story is accessible here.
Based on the DOJ’s announcement, Moorefield could face up to five years in federal prison for charges related to possessing, training, or transporting animals for an animal fighting operation.
Undeniably, this news places a stark spotlight on illegal animal fighting, an issue that penetrates even the highest corridors of power. For legal professionals, in particular, it will spark discussions about the vulnerabilities of encrypted communications, federal animal cruelty laws, and penalties for transgressions.
For further details, the DOJ press release can be read here.