Desmond Levon Brown, 29, of Orangeburg, faces up to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to animal crushing— which includes burning—under the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (PACT).
In December 2024, the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office received reports of a Facebook Live video showing Brown throwing a puppy into a fire and repeatedly kicking it into the flames—burning it alive. Deputies discovered the deceased puppy in a wooded area near the incident location.
Further evidence showed that the fire was made using a brand of rum that was imported from the Caribbean and bottled in Kentucky. After his arrest, Brown was recorded on jail calls admitting to burning the puppy.
“Brown’s gruesome torture of a puppy was heinous,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “He showed no mercy in his crime, and we look forward to his sentencing. Our office will lead the fight to protect the welfare of animals in South Carolina.”
This is the first known PACT Act conviction in South Carolina. In addition to a prison sentence, Brown faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced at a later date.
Anyone who may suspect animal abuse or animal fighting is asking to report the violations to the U.S. Department of Justice.