LI Man Gets 6-Mos. In Prison For Breeding Pitbulls To Fight: Nassau DA

FREEPORT, NY — A Freeport man was sentenced on Wednesday to six months in jail for breeding and selling pitbulls for dogfighting, prosecutors said.

Lonnie Poindexter, 56, pleaded guilty in September to one count of prohibition of animal fighting, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

Poindexter also receives five years' probation, prosecutors said.

"This defendant bred dogs for the purpose of using them or selling them into the unconscionably cruel and illegal world of dogfighting. Exploiting innocent animals is something that my prosecutors profoundly refuse to tolerate," said DA Donnelly.

As part of the sentence, Poindexter is prohibited from possessing any animals during the probation period, which will be enforced through spot checks by probation officers.

After a lengthy investigation, Poindexter was arrested at his home in Freeport in Oct. 2021, Donnelly said. As a result of a search warrant, investigators recovered six pit bulls used for breeding, a treadmill, detailed pedigree paperwork and heavy chains – all consistent with dogfighting, the D.A.'s office said.

"Dogfighting is often linked to other dangerous and illegal conduct, including narcotics and weapons activity and is a threat to our communities. I continue to urge anyone in Nassau County who may be aware of dogfighting activity to contact my Animal Crimes Unit at 516-571-7755 and report it," Donnelly said.