MAXTON — Three Maxton men were among five people who were sentenced to prison recently for being a part of an organized dog-fighting ring in Robeson County.

U.S. Attorney Thomas Walker said that James Matthew Blackman, 43; Jimmy Jacobs 40; and Ricky Dial, 55; were sentenced in federal court in New Bern by Judge Louise W. Flanagan. All of the men listed Maxton addresses.

“Word must go out,” Walker said in a statement. “Dog fighting, a particularly cruel crime, will not be tolerated.”

Blackman was sentenced to three years probation and 30 days of intermittent confinement; Dial will be serving eight months in prison and two years of supervised release; and Jacobs was sentenced to two years, five months in prison as well as three years of supervised release.

Two other men were also sentenced.

Frank Jacobs, 69, of Laurinburg, will spend two years, five months in prison and three years of supervised release, and Tony Harris, 35, of Lamar, S.C., will spend one year, 11 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Lawmen made the arrests after discovering a dog fight during a raid in Maxton on Feb 25, 2012. The men were charged in July by federal officials. Investigators said the men bred and trained pit bulls to fight, took bets on the fights and charged spectators an admission fee.