COLUMBUS (WCMH)– Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announced Friday that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is seeking federal charges against five men accused of being part of a dog fighting ring.

According to Columbus police, 45 dogs were seized and 11 people were taken in for questioning at five different locations during the raids in April. They were originally charged in state court.

The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office requested a dismissal of the state charges in order to allow the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute the defendants under the federal dog fighting statute, which carries a possible sentence of 5 years.  The state statute carries a possible penalty of only 18 months.What others are clicking on: