Kansas City man faces up to 15 years after pleading guilty to dogfighting, gun charges

A Kansas City, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and to multiple federal dogfighting charges, the Justice Department announced.

Vinol Wilson, 52, admitted to conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act’s animal fighting provisions, keeping a dog for use in fighting, and buying and receiving a dog for a dogfighting venture, prosecutors said.

“Wilson subjected animals to pain and suffering all for sport and profit,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division, adding that the department continues to aggressively prosecute such criminal activity and works with its partners to rescue dogs whenever possible.

U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price for the Western District of Missouri called the conduct “deplorable and in violation of federal law” and credited local, state and federal law enforcement partners for helping enforce the Animal Welfare Act and hold those responsible accountable.

According to court documents, Wilson ran a dogfighting operation and invited others to a multi-card event called “Mayhem Madness 2025,” held at his Kansas City residence on May 17, 2025. Participants traveled from multiple states with fighting dogs, using rental cars and short-term vacation rentals booked online, court records show.

Four fights were scheduled and three took place that night, according to the documents. After the fighting ended, Wilson polled attendees on which dog performed best and which was the “gamest” — most willing to keep fighting despite injury — and awarded trophies for “Best in Show” and “Gamest in Show,” prosecutors said. He also purchased and received a puppy from an out-of-state participant, intending to use the animal for fighting, according to court documents.

When agents executed a search warrant at Wilson’s residence on May 20, 2025, they recovered 16 fighting dogs, four of which were pregnant and later gave birth to 31 puppies, officials said. Investigators also found medications, syringes, a “slatmill” dog treadmill and fighting-dog “pedigrees,” along with a loaded 5.56mm pistol and 29 rounds of ammunition, according to the release.

The rescued dogs were cared for through a program administered by the U.S. Marshals Service. A separate civil forfeiture action by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri ensured the animals would not be returned to Wilson and instead could be rehabilitated and evaluated for possible adoption, officials said.

Each dogfighting count carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine; the firearm charge carries up to 15 years and a $250,000 fine, according to the Justice Department.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General and the Jackson County Drug Task Force investigated the case.