Ebro Trainer Faces Fines and License Revocation For Death Of Dozens Of Greyhounds

A motion for the final revocation of Ronnie Williams’ license was filed by Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering attorney Joseph Helton on Monday and served Thursday to Williams, who is being held in the Washington County Jail on $74,000 bond. He has one week from that date to respond to the order and if he does not, the division will finalize the actions called for in the order, Alexis Antonacci Lambert, press secretary for the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, wrote in an e-mail.

The motion calls for permanently revoking William’s pari-mutuel wagering license, barring him from all Florida pari-mutuel wagering facilities and fining him $170,000, or $5,000 for each of 34 violations.

While following up on a complaint, inspectors with the Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Washington County Sheriff’s Office discovered 32 dead dogs in Williams’ kennel on Oct. 29. An additional five were taken from the kennel alive but extremely underweight and three had duct tape wrapped around their necks, authorities reported. Necropsy exams on the dead dogs revealed they died from starvation and dehydration.

The five dogs taken from the kennel are recovering in the care of Ebro’s greyhound adoption center.

Williams waived his right to an administrative proceeding on the charges against him by failing to return an Election of Rights form by the Nov. 23 deadline after receiving an administrative complaint and emergency suspension notice on Nov. 2, according to the motion.

The Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering’s charges are civil in nature and separate from the criminal charges against Williams. He will be arraigned on his criminal charges at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Washington County Courthouse.