By Lindsay Press
A Hempstead man has been indicted on several charges, including dog fighting, weapons and drug possession.
In September 2024, the Nassau County Police Department and Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force were involved in an overdose investigation at a residence where Kevin Brown lived on Willow Avenue.
In December 2024, a search warrant was executed on the residence, leading the officers to find:
- A set of 1,053 pills, weighing about 116.8 grams, of which 771 were tested and contained fentanyl
- A set of 84 pills, weighing about 14.91 grams, of which 47 were tested and contained fentanyl
- A set of 10 pills, one of which was tested and contained hydrocodone
- A bag with a powdery substance, which was tested and contained ketamine
- A 9-millimeter Smith and Wesson handgun loaded with eight rounds in a magazine
- An additional magazine loaded with eight rounds
Officers also found seven dogs housed in and around the property in dirty and cluttered wooden crates. Six of the seven dogs were tethered with what seemed to be heavy chains and collars, and one was walking in the backyard. More large collars were found hanging from some of the fencing around the living structures, and the chained dogs had no visible access to food or water.
The Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NCSPCA) arrived to the residence for potential crimes and discovered a hanging spring pole, modified treadmill, and other animal fighting paraphernalia, all of which, mixed with how the dogs were held and chained, were indicative of a dogfighting training or breeding operation.
At least one dog had an open wound, and the dog who was walking in the backyard appeared to have “cropped” or purposefully cut ears, a common practice for fighting dogs.
Three of the other dogs had injuries that were recently healed. All seven dogs, five males and two females, were discovered to have scars suggesting dogfighting around their muzzles and other areas of their bodies. The two female dogs showed signs of previously breeding puppies.
Based on these findings, an additional warrant was obtained to seize the animals and fighting paraphernalia.
On December 3, 2024, Brown was arrested in Seaford. He was arraigned on March 12, 2025 before Judge Caryn Fink on the following charges:
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (a Class A-II felony)
- Three Counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (a Class B felony)
- Six counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree (a Class B felony)
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a Class C violent felony)
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (a Class D felony)
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree (a Class D felony)
- Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (a Class E felony)
- Criminal Possession of a Firearm (a Class E felony)
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree (a Class A misdemeanor)
- 14 counts of Prohibition of Animal Fighting as a Felony (a Clas E felony)
- Two counts of Prohibition of Animal Fighting as a Misdemeanor (a Class B misdemeanor)
Brown pleaded not guilty. Bail was set at $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond, and $500,000 partially secured bond. Brown was also ordered not to own or control any animals while the case is pending. He is scheduled to be in court on April 30, 2025. If convicted, Brown faces up to 15 years in jail.
“Selling dangerous drugs is often associated with the cruelty of dogfighting, and this defendant allegedly possessed and sold pills containing enough fentanyl to kill more than 65,000 people while also housing, breeding, and training seven pit bulls to fight,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “Both crimes show a blatant disregard for life and neither will ever be tolerated in Nassau County. My office is committed to holding those who deal in deadly opioids and subject animals to inhumane, dangerous conditions accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”