ATLANTA — A metro Atlanta man accused of promoting dogfighting and abusing animals has been sentenced to federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.

Norman Dixson was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to sponsoring and exhibiting a dog in an animal fighting venture.

Federal prosecutors say Dixson bred, trained and abused dogs for dogfighting while also using more than $170,000 in pandemic relief and unemployment benefits he was not entitled to receive.

According to prosecutors, investigators found videos and photos showing Dixson training dogs to fight and advertising puppies for dogfighting.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said Dixson “exploited federal relief programs while breeding, training, and abusing dogs” for entertainment and financial gain.

“Dogfighting has no place in civilized society,” Hertzberg said.

Dixson is also accused of fraudulently collecting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits.

“Norman Dixson was sentenced to federal prison for his vile acts of animal cruelty, the killing of animals, and his involvement in brutal dog-fighting operations. Dixson also defrauded the Indiana Department of Workforce Development by fraudulently filing for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits he knew he was not entitled to receive, stealing taxpayer-funded relief intended for people in genuine need,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor.

Dixson was ordered to pay $171,069 in restitution and will be prohibited from possessing dogs while on supervised release, officials said.