VIDALIA — A Ferriday man was convicted Tuesday on drugs and weapons charges stemming from a November 2017 drug bust that also revealed a suspected dog fighting ring.

Jameel D. Green is scheduled for sentencing on July 17 on three counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent and possession of firearms while in possession of controlled substances, said Brad Burget Concordia Parish district attorney.

He was arrested and charged on Nov. 29, 2017, at his residence at 127 Warren St., Ferriday, where investigators found 24 grams of methamphetamine, a .22-caliber rifle, a .380-caliber pistol and $906 in cash as well as several dogs that were chained just far enough apart that they could not touch one another and were in poor health with suspicious scarring, Burget said.

One dog was reportedly crippled by broken bones in its legs that had long since healed and another was given water by an investigator and drank so much that it immediately threw up, Burget said.

Investigators also said they found a treadmill in a shed that was boxed-off and appeared as though it was used to keep animals trapped on the machine and force them to run and build muscle.

Prior to that arrest, Burget said undercover officers also completed three drug transactions with Green on Nov. 15, 20 and 26 of 2017 before obtaining search warrants.

“On the first two occasions, they purchased seven grams of meth for $200 and on the third occasion the undercover officer along with a confidential informant purchased $350 worth of methamphetamines with a total weight of 14 grams,” Burget said.

Burget said he chose only to prosecute the drug and weapons charges while simple cruelty to animals, dogfighting and other misdemeanor charges are still forthcoming.

“The stronger case for the court were the drug and weapon charges,” Burget said. “There were some conflicting stories for what happened to the dogs, and the drug charges were overwhelming him. … Each distribution carries between a 2- and 30-year sentence while the weapon charge carries between a 5- and 10-year sentence.”

Burget said Green could be penalized with anywhere from 5 to 130-years in prison for the drug and weapon charges alone.

Green, who was out on a bond at the time of his conviction, , Burget said, had been remanded to the custody of the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office until sentencing.

Burget thanked CPSO and the narcotics task force for their assistance with the investigation and prosecution, including agent Chad Fuqua, Sgt. John Cowan and Concorida Parish Police Chief David Hedrick as well as Assistant D.A. Austin Lipsey for prosecuting the case and Concordia Parish citizens who appeared at jury duty.

“Without the citizens doing their civic duty,” Burget said, “we could not have prosecuted this case.”