Maryland Father and Son Charged in Dog Fighting Case
State of MD - A father and son from Whiteford, Maryland have been arrested in a federal dog fighting case. A federal grand jury charged both men in a 12-count indictment.
The two men are Theodore Lamont Stinson, 48, and his son, Theodore Lamont Stinson Jr., 25. Both live in Whiteford in Harford County, Maryland.
According to the indictment, the case goes back to at least April 2016. Prosecutors say the father and son, along with others, bought, sold, bred, trained, and used pit bull-type dogs for dog fighting.
The indictment says the two men ran a kennel called "KLK." They allegedly used the kennel name to advertise the dogs they had for sale.
Prosecutors say the men kept dogs at their property so they could sell, move, and breed them. Some of those dogs belonged to the people they were working with, according to the indictment.
The indictment says both men looked after the dogs. The father is accused of advising his son on how to care for them.
Both men are also accused of setting up transportation for the dogs when they were sold or bred. According to the indictment, the father often arranged the sales and the son drove the dogs to where they were going.
On July 17, 2025, the Harford County Sheriff's Office and its Animal Control Unit served search warrants at the elder Stinson's home. Investigators found 44 pit bull-type dogs on the property.
They also found veterinary medicine and supplies, a breeding stand, and paperwork about dog sales and pedigrees. Investigators also found a "spring pole/rope" accessory, which is used to train and condition fighting dogs.
The 12 counts fall under four kinds of federal charges. The men are charged with conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture, and with buying, selling, delivering, possessing, training, or transporting animals for an animal fighting venture.
They are also charged with using the postal service or other interstate means to promote an animal fighting venture. The last charge is interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises.
If convicted, each man faces up to five years in federal prison on each of those charges. Federal sentences are usually less than the maximum, and a federal judge will decide any sentence.
The case was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. The FBI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the Harford County Sheriff's Office, and the Harford County State's Attorney's Office all worked on the investigation.
The U.S. Marshals Service and the Maryland National Guard 32nd Civil Support Team also helped. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Levin and Liane Kozik are prosecuting the case.
Disclosure: All individuals mentioned in this article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Eastern Shore Undercover® does not express or imply any opinion regarding the incident reported.
