A Deerfield Beach man who was considered one of South Florida’s biggest dogfighters was sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation.
Alex Benefield, 54, an instructor at Boyd Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes, was “one of the top dog fighting trainers and dog fighters in South Florida,” according to federal court records.
Federal agents had raided his home in January and found 36 pit bulls in cages, many of them injured. In September, Benefield pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing, training and receipt of a dog for use in an animal fighting venture as part of an agreement with prosecutors.
Prior to his sentencing, he had asked the judge to be spared prison time. Several employees at Boyd Anderson, including the principal, submitted letters on his behalf, citing his mentorship of young people as a football coach and later an automative instructor at the school.
The same day as Benefield’s arrest, FBI agents had also raided the home of another Broward dogfighter, Tramaine Randall. A federal judge sentenced Randall to one year of probation.
Benefield’s attorney, Richard Della Fera, declined to comment when reached by the Sun Sentinel Tuesday.
The government is now seeking ownership of the dogs, along with several puppies that were born while the pit bulls were in the custody of the U.S. Marshals.