Owner of West Camp Dog Fighting Venture Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Dog Fighting and Domestic Violence

TULSA, Okla. - A Tulsa man was sentenced for six counts related to running a dog fighting venture in his home and for beating his then-girlfriend with a golf club, announced U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar.

U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Julius Deane Griffin, 44, for five counts of Possession of a Dog for an Animal Fighting Venture; Causing an Individual Under the Age of 16 to Attend an Animal Fighting Venture; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; and Tampering with Evidence by Corrupt Persuasion. Griffin was ordered to serve 210 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.

"Julius Griffin engaged in a sustained pattern of harming animals and people alike. And then when he was finally brought to justice, he tried to destroy evidence of his crimes," said U.S. Attorney Chris Nassar. "This sentence sends a strong message that engaging in dog fighting and domestic violence will not be tolerated in the Northern District of Oklahoma and will be met with significant consequences."

In 2024, law enforcement began investigating Griffin for drug activities. When agents obtained a search warrant on Griffin's social media account, they discovered that he was fighting dogs under the name "West Camp." Agents then executed a search warrant at Griffin's home and seized 17 live pit bull-type dogs and other fighting dogs, and one deceased dog. Agents seized over $16,000 in cash, electronic devices, dog-fighting trophies, dog treadmills, kennels, digital scales to weigh the dogs, dog food, injectable steroids, syringes, and dog medications.

The dogs seized were placed with outside caregivers and received immediate medical attention. Some dogs had missing and damaged body parts, visible scars, and open wounds, consistent with dog fighting. The deceased dog exhibited visible scars and open wounds, consistent with dog fighting, and was recently deceased.

Court documents show that Griffin admitted to possessing 18 dogs in his backyard and basement of his house located in Tulsa. During sentencing, the prosecutor stated that Griffin would take a dog into his basement for "training." While in the dark basement, the dog would be starved and run on a treadmill several times to prepare for an upcoming fight.

The investigation revealed that Griffin possessed 1,000s of images and videos documenting his dog-fighting venture. At sentencing, prosecutors showed several graphic images and videos of dogs injured or fighting. A brief video showed a dog that appeared to be lifeless, muzzled by duct tape, and attacked by a separate dog, as Griffin cheered on the prevailing dog.

Griffin admitted to traveling between Oklahoma and Kansas to fight the dogs and to buying or selling dogs in Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania. During one of his dog fights, Griffin admitted he allowed two children, ages 4 and 2, to watch the dog fight.

After being arrested in April 2025, Griffin contacted a friend and directed them to log in to his accounts and delete data from his cloud-based devices. Griffin knowingly directed his friend to conceal and delete videos, conversations, and pictures related to his animal-fighting venture.

Additionally, in December 2023, Griffin admitted to assaulting the woman he was dating at that time. He struck her several times with a golf club. The assault left the victim with a fractured wrist, ankle swelling, arm and knee lacerations, as well as rib pain.

During sentencing proceedings, it was mentioned that Griffin scored in the highest criminal history category because of his prior criminal convictions. Court records show that Griffin was previously convicted of more than 21 crimes, including being convicted in 2005 for his involvement in a separate dog fighting ring. He was sentenced to five years and served approximately two years. He has also previously been convicted of six assault and domestic assault related crimes since 2009.

Griffin will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshal Service, the USDA-OIG, the Creek County Sheriff's Office, and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. The U.S. Marshal Service National Seized Animal Program, the City of Tulsa Animal Services, and the Humane Society of Tulsa assisted in the medical treatment of the dogs and their recovery. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris prosecuted the case.