Cockfighting - Philadelphia, PA

Saturday, Mar 16, 2002

County: Philadelphia

Disposition: Alleged
Case Images: 8 files available

Alleged:
» Edvardo Alfero
» Alicea Angel
» Edwin Aponte
» Waldamer Berenguer
» Raymond Casiano
» Michael Castillo
» Luis Cazarin
» Luis Class
» Efrain Delatorre
» Jose Duran
» Juan Forty
» Roberto Gomez
» Julio Gonzales
» Pablo Hernandez
» Juan Hernandez
» Jose Jiminez
» Elvis Juare
» Chadwick Kinsler
» Thomas Langlois
» Neil Lizardi
» Barmi Lopez
» Eduardo Lopez
» Ernesto Lopez
» Noel Lopez
» Carlos Martinez
» Justo Martinez
» Felix Medina
» Daniel Mendoza
» Angel Morales
» Edwin Morales
» Carlos Nazario
» Rebecca Nazario
» Edgardo Ortiz
» Guandemar-Walderma Ortiz
» Juan Ortiz
» Ryan Petit
» Rafael Perez
» Juan Ponce
» Jaime Portalatin
» Carlos Quinones
» Primitivo Quiles
» Victor Quiles
» Anibal Ramos
» William Ramos
» Idelfonso Rio
» Pedro Rios
» Peter Rios
» Edward Riveria
» Jose Rivera
» Roberto Riveria
» Sargi Riveria
» Craudio Rodriguez
» Javier Rodriguez
» Juan Rodriguez
» Jose Rodriguez
» Thomas Rodriguez
» Alicia Roman
» Rene Rosado
» Angel Roserio
» Angel Santiago
» Bruce Santos
» Edwin Torres
» Martin Valentino
» Edwin Vargas
» Celestino Vazquez
» Paul Velasquez
» Paul Velasquez
» Lillian Virola
» juvenile
» juvenile
» juvenile
» juvenile
» juvenile
» juvenile
» juvenile
» juvenile
» juvenile

Responding to an anonymous tip, Police arrived from 5 districts at a Philadelphia warehouse and found a 4 ring championship cockfightng tournament in progress, with more than 75 spectators in attendance.  66 live fighting roosters were confiscated.  13 were dead, some dismembered.  Some of the attendees came from as far away as New Jersey and New York.

The warehouse is located at 2951 N. Marshall St. at the corner of Indiana Street.  Business's located in the warehouse are J&C Auto Repair and La Favorita Moving & Storage.

75 adults and 9 juveniles were arrested.  All were charged with cruelty to animals - a felony and illegal gambling possession of an instrument of crime (plastic spurs) and conspiracy - all misdemeanors.

Police also confiscated $50,000; a 4 foot trophy; disposable plastic spurs; and sticks of red, wax used to seal the spurs that were tied in place with dental floss.  Police also collected bottles of fingernail polish remover, which helped remove the wax and rubbing alcohol, used to clean the wounds.  They also found 2 police scanners, a loaded 9mm handgun, hypodermic needles used to inject the birds with stimulants and blood-thinning anticoagulants.

The trophy that was to be awarded was a four-columned design with 2 silver roosters posing at the top.  Engraved in Spanish were the words "Gallera Carbeck" (Carbeck Ring), Pelea Mas Rapida (Fastest Fight), March 16, 2002.

The birds were taken to the Philadelphia SPCA for care until the courts decide what to do with them.  Most likely they will be euthanized.  The value of the birds can range from $100 to $10,000 apiece.  The birds are in separate cages as they are aggressive.

Carbeck Farm had a website with information about the sport of cockfighting.  Dun & Bradstreet describes the company's business as farm supplies and animal feeds and states that its annual sales are $1 million.  The company employes 30 people.  Less than a week after the raid the website was no longer accessible.

NJ also has Vineland, in rural Cumberland County, which has long been known as a breeding hotspot.

The spurs are distributed by Ernesto Juan e Hijos Inc. of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico.  The spurs are put onto the roosters using dental floss.  As the birds fight to the death, the spurs guarantee that the blood will flow quickly.

The nail polish remover as well as alchohol and even hot sauce is rubbed on the roosters' wounds to get them more "infuriated."  The birds feathers are plucked from everywhere except their wings, tail and head.  The fleshy wattles are removed from under the head to satve off blood loss.  Wings are usually clipped to keep the birds from flying away.  The process is called "dressing" the bird for competition.

References

• The HSUS Humanelines
• The Philadelphia Weekly

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