Pet-Abuse.Com - Animal Abuse Case Details: Cockfighting - 126 birds seized, 145 arrests

Cockfighting - 126 birds seized, 145 arrests
Boydton, VA (US)

Incident Date: Sunday, Jan 21, 2007
County: Mecklenburg
Local Map: available
Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 1 files available

Abuser names unreleased

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Case ID: 10597

Classification: Fighting

Animal: chicken

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State and local authorities raided a cockfighting pit at a Mecklenburg County farm Jan 21 afternoon and arrested 145 people, authorities said.

About three-quarters of those arrested are North Carolina residents, authorities said.

North Carolina made cockfighting a felony in 2005. It is a misdemeanor in Virginia, and only then, if it is associated with gambling, authorities said.

Authorities were tipped off to the cockfighting ring early last year and investigated the case for seven months in an operation named "Grit and Steel." The bust happened at a facility in the 2000 block of Redlawn Road.

The Humane Society of the United States, officers from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff�s Office and the Virginia State Police and agents from the U.S. Department of Agriculture participated in the raid.

More than 126 birds were seized, and others were found dead, scattered around the property. About 10 children were present, including one estimated to be 4 years old, authorities said.

Authorities also seized a large amount of cockfighting paraphernalia, including metal spurs and gaffs; illegal drugs, including cocaine, crack and marijuana; and approximately $40,000 in cash.

Among those arrested, 22 people have been detained by Homeland Security for being in the country illegally; 10 people were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor; and two arrested on charges of identification fraud.

Seven of those arrested were determined to be members of various organized Mexican gangs, Mecklenburg County authorities said.

�By taking down this operation, we hope to send a message to our citizens and anybody from outside our county who thinks they can come here to engage in this criminal pursuit that cockfighters are not welcome,� Mecklenburg County Sheriff Danny R. Fox said in a statement.

�It�s a cruel, illegal activity that acts as magnet for other criminal acts involving weapons, drugs, violence and gambling, and we urge our state legislators to give law enforcement the tough penalties we need to deter this," Fox added.

Lawmakers have introduced a bill in the Virginia legislature to make cockfighting a felony in the state.

Case Updates

A massive investigation and subsequent arrests of more than 140 people in southern Virginia on cockfighting charges � with 75 percent of those arrested actually from North Carolina � has brought to the forefront an always present problem in rural Sampson County. The bust has brought requests from local authorities that any county residents who may be suspicious that animal fighting is occurring around them to report it.

Earlier this week, after an eight-month investigation in cooperation with the Humane Society of the United States, officers from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff�s Office, along with Virginia State police and agents from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, raided a cockfighting pit near Boydton, Virginia.

Law enforcement officers arrested approximately 145 people in what was deemed the first such raid of its size in Virginia. More than 126 birds were seized and others were found dead, scattered around the property. About 10 children were present, including a child estimated to be 4 years old.

According to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff�s Office, 75 percent of those arrested came across the border from North Carolina. Cockfighting was made a felony in North Carolina in 2005, however is only currently a class 3 misdemeanor in Virginia, and only if associated with gambling. There are 33 states that currently provide felony penalties for cockfighting crimes.

The pit and arrests came just miles over the North Carolina border.

Tim Bass, chief officer for Sampson County Animal Control, said that such operations, while not as big, are present in Sampson.

�It�s been a problem for some time,� Bass said. �It�s a problem, but it�s just like any other thing. If you don�t get the calls, you have little way of knowing where the problem is.�

Bass encouraged residents who may believe that such an animal fighting ring is present, to report it. While some leads do not turn up anything, others do � and often those suspicions had by an everyday citizen are confirmed.

Last February, five men were arrested, including one on more than 50 counts of animal cruelty, following the bust of a cockfighting ring in northern Sampson County. Authorities responding to a Page Road home found a large group of people acting as spectators to cockfights in two separate rings.

Along with the arrests, 83 roosters were seized by authorities, 59 of which had reportedly been prepped for fighting.

And last March, a dog fighting operation was uncovered and two Cumberland County men arrested following an anonymous complaint to Sampson County authorities of dog fighting activity.

Sheriff�s authorities located a fighting ring inside an abandoned house in the Vann Crossroads area and an injured pit bull inside of a vehicle that was in one of the man�s possession. There were approximately seven adults and an 11-year-old child at the residence at the time and an armed guard standing watch at the entrance to a driveway leading to the home.

Bass and other local authorities have noted in the past that cockfighting and animal fighting in general is not only a cruel and illegal activity, but also brings other criminal activity along with it. Such fighting operations are normally coupled with other criminal acts, involving weapons, drugs, violence and gambling.

A piece of federal legislation is being considered by the United States Congress to make it a felony to transport any animal over state lines for an animal fighting venture. The legislation, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, has 275 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.

Authorities said that the large volume of participants from North Carolina in the recent bust in Virginia shows that Virginia has become a magnet for cockfighting because of the low penalties associated with it.

While that may be the case, Bass said that a felony charge will only deter a participant in animal fighting so far � and such people will still try to set up illegal operations.

According to Bass, a report of animal fighting activity that nets arrests and convictions of those responsible could act not only to rid the area of that activity but reward residents in other ways � monetarily.

A $2,500 reward is offered through the Humane Society of the United States for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those who held animal fighting operations, further encouraging tips from residents.

To report any suspicious activity or animal fighting operation that you believe may be present, call the Sampson County Sheriff�s Office at 910-592-4141. Those wishing to remain anonymous can utilize the Sampson County Sheriff�s Office�s Tip Line at 910-564-5261 and leave a message for investigators.

Source: The Sampson Indepndent - Jan 27, 2007
Update posted on Jan 28, 2007 - 11:43PM

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	WRAL - Jan 22, 2007
	WRIC - Jan 22, 2007

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Cockfighting - 126 birds seized, 145 arrestsBoydton, VA (US)

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Cockfighting - 126 birds seized, 145 arrests
Boydton, VA (US)