Six Gainesville men indicted on federal dog-fighting charges

Press release from the U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Florida

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Taurean Jaquan Servance, 24; Jarrett Abram Servance, 45; Jarrett Abram Servance Jr., 25; Terry Lajace Lee, 44; Christopher Eugene Thompson, 56; and Clinton Thomas, 43, all of Gainesville, have been indicted in federal court for conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act. In addition, Thompson has been indicted on 13 counts of possession of fighting dogs; Thomas has been indicted on 12 counts of possession of fighting dogs; Taurean Servance and Jarrett Servance Jr. have been indicted on 11 counts of possession of fighting dogs; and Jarrett Servance has been indicted on 6 counts of possession of fighting dogs. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.

Jury trial for all defendants is scheduled for October 21, 2026, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida.

The penalty for each count charged is a maximum of 5 years’ imprisonment.

The case was jointly investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, the Gainesville Police Department, Alachua County Sherriff’s Office, and Alachua County Animal Resources. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner. 

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.