BY MAC McLEAN
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Gina De’Lynn Price sold English and French bulldog puppies over the Internet to at least 234 people, according to an FBI agent who testified Monday afternoon on the opening day of her trial.
Price is accused of importing sick bulldog puppies from Eastern Europe and selling them as healthy ones that she raised through her Blountville-based business, Rebel Ridge Kennels, and its Web site, www.rebelridgekennels.com.
She is charged with 10 federal crimes including mail fraud, wire fraud, income tax fraud and Social Security fraud. Her trial, which is expected to last 10 days, started in federal court on Monday.
During his testimony, Special Agent David Campbell presented jurors with a series of e-mails, business licenses and bank statements for Price and her business that he has collected since his investigation began in July 2005.
He said Price routinely purchased her animals from three suppliers and complained to the sellers that many of the dogs suffered from parvo – an incurable and often fatal disease that attacks a dog’s intestinal lining – when they arrived in the U.S.
Campbell said Price paid about $500 for each dog, which according to her indictment she then sold for between $1,200 and $2,800. The indictment also claims the dogs suffered from other serious conditions like hip dysplasia and heart murmurs.
“The desire for money set aside all other things,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy Harr said in her opening statement, adding that Price did not care about the animals or her customers.
“Gina Price was a shrewd businesswoman who knew how to surmount obstacles and get what she wanted. What she wanted was the money,” Harr said.
She added that Campbell’s testimony – which will continue this morning – was designed to provide jurors with an introduction to what they will see over the next two weeks.
She also plans to have American Kennel Club officials and an animal welfare advocate from California testify along with some of Price’s customers and former business associates.
Price’s attorney, Richard Spivey, also has subpoenaed eight witnesses to testify on her behalf. He gave jurors a look into what the trial may hold when the panel was chosen Monday afternoon.
“This is going to be a rather lengthy case and it’s going to be very intricate at times,” Spivey said, adding that it is an important case because “Ms. Price’s freedom is at jeopardy today.”
gmclean@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2518
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