Fake Dog Trainer Sentenced to Probation, Faces Restitution for Animal Cruelty and Fraud

Jason Jones, a 45-year-old man from Ohio, has been sentenced to five years of probation after being convicted of running a fraudulent dog training business. The sentencing occurred last week, marking a significant step in a case that has drawn widespread condemnation for its cruelty and deceit.

Jones pleaded guilty to a staggering 181 counts, encompassing both the failure to provide promised dog training services and acts of animal cruelty. The Montgomery County Prosecuting Attorneys Office confirmed the sentencing, emphasizing the severity of Jones’s crimes. In addition to probation, Jones has been ordered to pay a substantial sum of $341,363.24 in restitution to his victims.

The case has been closely monitored due to the egregious nature of Jones’s actions. The assistant prosecutor had initially recommended a minimum prison sentence of 10 years, reflecting the deep concern over the harm caused to both the animals and their owners. The final decision on probation, while perhaps seen as lenient by some, still carries the weight of a significant financial penalty and the threat of imprisonment should Jones violate the terms of his probation.

Adding complexity to the case, Jones’s co-defendants, his ex-girlfriend Tabatha Taverna, 48, and his current girlfriend Jennifer Long, 40, are also implicated. They are scheduled to be sentenced this Friday, potentially facing their own repercussions for their involvement in the fraudulent scheme. All three individuals previously entered guilty pleas relating to the charges against them.

The fraudulent enterprise, known as Dayton Dog Trainer LLC, was portrayed by Jones as a legitimate business offering comprehensive dog training services, including the training of support animals. Jones allegedly promised extensive follow-up training, a promise that was consistently broken, according to the attorney’s office.

More than 120 customers were ensnared in Jones’s scheme, paying thousands of dollars for services that were never delivered. The consequences for the dogs were particularly disturbing. Instead of receiving professional training, the animals were often returned to their owners in deplorable conditions: untrained, covered in feces, and displaying obvious signs of neglect and maltreatment. The sheer scale of the fraud is evident in the total amount Jones amassed from his customers, exceeding $340,000.

Tragically, the neglect extended beyond mere discomfort. Court documents obtained by USA TODAY revealed that one dog died while under Jones’s care, a stark indication of the severity of the abuse.

The Dayton Dog Trainer company operated under Jones’s direction until March 27, 2024. However, according to the Montgomery County Prosecuting Attorney, the business initially started as a legitimate venture, but a turning point occurred in August 2018. "Jones turned that business into a grift," the court documents stated, highlighting the deliberate and calculated nature of the fraud.

Jones’s website painted a picture of a highly skilled and experienced trainer. He advertised services ranging from advanced dog obedience and aggressive dog behavior rehabilitation to house manners and training for therapy dogs, seeing-eye dogs, and diabetes alert dogs. Further amplifying his claims, Jones purported to train dogs in specialized areas such as narcotics detection, scent detection, and tracking.

His method of operation involved traveling to potential customers’ homes for in-home evaluations. These evaluations were often superficial, lasting only a minute or two to assess the dog, followed by a lengthy sales pitch to the owners.

During these conversations, Jones allegedly misrepresented his background and work experience, providing misleading information to build trust and credibility.

According to prosecutors, Jones interspersed his false claims with "several things he said had a thread of truth in them." For instance, he mentioned his service in the National Guard, but omitted the fact that he went AWOL and received an administrative discharge in lieu of court-martial. He also claimed to have been assigned to a military police unit, neglecting to mention that he never completed the training.

His work history included stints as an auxiliary officer with the Phillipsburg Police Department and as an auxiliary Greene County Park Ranger. However, prosecutors noted that he quit both jobs before he could be terminated. Furthermore, investigators learned that claims of training dogs for Bengals players were false.

His LinkedIn profile also contained fabrications, including a false claim about conducting narcotics interdiction for Green County. Prosecutors added that videos purportedly showing him training dogs at a kennel facility were misleading, as he had not owned or run such a facility since at least 2006.

The victims of Jones’s scam were diverse, representing various needs and expectations.

Jones required his customers to sign a six-page contract and pay in full upfront. He often requested payment in cash or through platforms like Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App, allegedly to avoid paying taxes.

The average fee for his services was $2,500. However, when it came time for training, Jones would frequently fabricate emergencies or postpone drop-off dates.

The consequences for the dogs were devastating. Many animals lost significant weight and were returned with their ribs showing. Others were matted with feces, smelling strongly of urine, and suffering from rashes, bald spots, and parasitic infections like whipworm. In one particularly disturbing case, a dog’s teeth appeared to have been filed.

One of the most egregious examples of Jones’s deception involved a woman who was losing her sight. He promised to train her dog as a seeing-eye dog, but the dog was returned aggressive and attacked her, requiring skin grafting surgery.

In another case, a paraplegic customer sent their dog to Jones for training, only for the dog to bite their granddaughter, leading to a trip to the emergency room and stitches.

A customer who sought training and certification for their dog for air travel was also defrauded. The dog was untrained and denied boarding.

Many of Jones’s victims lived in fear of him. He threatened to sue them for leaving bad reviews and was aggressive when they attempted to cancel or seek refunds. The fact that he had been to their homes and knew their addresses added to their anxiety.

Prosecutors described the business as a "scam," revealing that Jones operated Dayton Dog Trainer out of a home in New Lebanon with Taverna and later from a log cabin in Brookville, before finally relocating to a home in Huber Heights with Long.

Neighbors in Brookville and Huber Heights confirmed that they never witnessed Jones training any dogs. Investigators believe the dogs were kept in cages while under Jones’s care, citing the discovery of a crushed crate as evidence of potential physical abuse.

A raid on Jones’s Brookville home in October 2023 served as a warning, but he continued his fraudulent activities until an arrest warrant was served.

Prosecuting Attorney Mat Heck, Jr., expressed relief that Jones was facing the consequences of his actions. “This defendant ran his so-called business in a way that suggested he believed he could escape the consequences of taking people’s money, torturing their dogs, and providing little to no actual dog training,” Heck said. He emphasized the staggering number of victims and expressed his hope that Jones would never be allowed near a dog again.