Gilmer County sheriff’s deputies arrested the leader of an alleged dogfighting ring Thursday in a raid near Ellijay.

Gerald Holcomb, the apparent owner of the operation, was charged with felony dogfighting, being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana, according to the Humane Society of the United States and Appalachian Circuit District Attorney Joe Hendricks.

Authorities seized 11 dogs along with suspected dogfighting paraphernalia, the Humane Society reported. Several dogs had scars consistent with dogfighting.

On July 17, the district attorney’s office raided Mountain Swamp Kennels in Blue Ridge, where they found 22 pit bulls along with three dogfighting pits and “suspected dogfighting paraphernalia.” They arrested Albert Glenn White. He is accused of breeding several pit bull bloodlines that are cherished by dogfighters, according to the Humane Society.