A Hempstead man was sentenced on drug, weapons possession, and animal fighting charges after a search warrant executed at his residence in December 2024 recovered over 1,000 fentanyl pills, a loaded handgun, and seven dogs kept in conditions that were indicative of dogfighting.
Donnelly said that members of the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Task Force became involved in an overdose investigation in Nassau County in September 2024.
Following months of surveillance, Kevin Brown was observed and eventually charged with three separate sales of narcotics in October 2024.
A search warrant was executed on his residence in December 2024, and the following items were recovered:
- A set of 1,053 pills, of which 771 were tested, weighed approximately 116.8 grams, and were found to contain fentanyl
- A set of 84 pills, of which 47 were tested, weighed approximately 14.91 grams, and were found to contain fentanyl
- A set of 10 pills, one of which was tested and found to contain hydrocodone
- A bag with a powdery substance, which was tested and found to contain ketamine
- A nine-millimeter Smith and Wesson handgun loaded with eight rounds in the magazine
- An additional magazine loaded with eight rounds
Authorities also observed seven dogs housed in and around the property in dirty and cluttered wooden crates. Six of the seven dogs were tethered with what appeared to be heavy chains and collars, and one was roaming the backyard. Additional large collars were observed hanging from some of the fencing around the living structures, and the chained dogs did not have any visible access to food or water.
The Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NCSPCA) and NCDA Detective Investigators responded to the residence regarding possible animal crimes and observed a hanging spring pole, modified treadmill, and other animal fighting paraphernalia, all of which, combined with how the dogs were housed and chained, were indicative of a dogfighting training or breeding operation.
At least one of the dogs had an open wound, and the dog that was roaming in the backyard appeared to have “cropped” or intentionally cut ears, a common practice for fighting dogs.
Three of the other dogs had wounds that had recently healed. All seven dogs, five males and two females, were also found to have scars indicative of dogfighting around their muzzles and other areas on their bodies. The two female dogs both showed signs of previously breeding puppies.
Based on these observations, an additional warrant was obtained to seize the animals and fighting paraphernalia.
All the animals have since been adopted and one animal was released to its owner who was not the defendant.
“Dogfighting fosters violence and often goes hand-in-hand with drug and gang activity,” said Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly. “This defendant exploited these vulnerable animals, and his criminal actions could have led to even more suffering if he was not stopped.”
The defendant was arrested in Seaford on December 3, 2024, by detectives of the Nassau County Police Department’s Narcotics/Vice Squad.
Brown, 39, pleaded guilty on June 4, 2026, before Judge Caryn Fink to Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree (a Class A-II felony); Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a Class D violent felony); and Aggravated Animal Cruelty (a Class E felony).
The defendant was sentenced on July 21 to 7-1/2 years in prison, five years post-release supervision, and received a lifetime animal ban. NCDA recommended a sentence of 10 years in prison.
“This defendant had enough fentanyl in his home to kill tens of thousands of people, but his stockpile of dangerous drugs was just the tip of the iceberg as investigators discovered a dogfighting operation and seven young pitbulls scarred and in squalid conditions,” said Donnelly.