A woman and 14 men were arrested on Saturday, July 27, during a raid in Granville County, North Carolina, where authorities uncovered illegal cockfighting activities.
During the operation, weapons, 46 vehicles, $14,000 in cash, and 174 birds were seized, among other properties, according to Univision. Several Cubans were identified among those arrested by local authorities.
The tranquility of Granville County residents was disrupted when Sheriff Robert Fountain announced that on a property on Lawrence Road, dozens of people had paid $50 to participate in the cockfights, an illegal activity in the state.
Authorities received a tip-off the previous Friday detailing the event, allowing an undercover officer to confirm the information before the raid, which began at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
When agents arrived, many attendees attempted to flee, abandoning properties and vehicles at the scene. Among those detained was Sharon Kay Miller, the only woman in the group. She and José García were both charged with participating and betting on the cockfights.
Other detainees include Juan Pérez Hernández, Roberto Soria Castañeda, Noé Jaimes Antúnez, Khanh Lee, Héctor Martínez Paredes, Pedro López, Miguel Ángel Pérez Vázquez, Ricardo Jiménez García, Gregorio Sánchez, Raphael Hernández, Arturo García, Manuel R. Regalado, and Alexis Ramírez Pérez.
According to Fountain, four of the arrested individuals have detention orders from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and a fifth faces a detention order from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The 174 roosters seized are now under the care of animal welfare organizations. The sheriff described the scene as "horrible," noting the consumption of alcohol and marijuana. Additionally, weapons were found in some vehicles, along with other odd items, such as a skull on the grill of an abandoned truck.
The Granville County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the owners of the 46 seized vehicles, some of which are used for family transportation and business purposes. Among the vehicles are trucks and cars of various brands, including a Lexus and several trucks with out-of-state plates like Virginia.
The raid also left several business owners without their work vehicles, complicating their situation as they must justify their presence at an illegal event to reclaim their property. The owners will face additional charges for their participation in the cockfights.
On the property, investigators found cages where the roosters were kept before each fight. The full details of the investigation have not yet been disclosed to avoid compromising the process, but authorities continue to work to identify all involved and ensure they face legal consequences.
Cockfighting in the United States: An Illegal Business with a High Presence of Cubans
In late March, the Miami-Dade Police arrested five Cuban men linked to an underground cockfighting network in Kendall while executing a search warrant.
Intelligence and vice squad agents visited a property located at 6701 Southwest 122nd Avenue, alerted by a discovery made by an officer from the Illegal Dumping Unit, according to the arrest report cited by local media.
The search warrant revealed numerous fighting roosters in cages scattered across the property, training rings, and fighting paraphernalia.
The suspects were identified as Epifanio Puentes Suárez, 71; Carlos Bienvenido Cruz, 75; Omar Ucio Izquierdo, 67; Maykel Barroso Montero, 47 and Alejandro Montero Morales, 35.
The five suspects were detained and faced multiple charges, including animal cruelty and illegal animal fighting, according to the police report.
In February, a Cuban from Hialeah was detained for training roosters for illegal fights at his auto parts store.
In October 2023, Cuban Andrés Laguardia, arrested in Miami for participating in cockfights, claimed he was an enthusiast but traveled to Cuba to engage in this activity because it is legal on the island. He also stated that he did not consider himself an animal abuser and intended to sue authorities for having sacrificed more than 40 specimens at his home while he was detained.
"If at any point I was guilty of something, let a judge decide. I like it; I'm an enthusiast, but I go to Cuba and fight them there because it's legal," he explained.
Key Details on the North Carolina Cockfighting Bust
In light of the recent arrests in Granville County, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers to help clarify the situation.
What were the key findings during the raid in Granville County?
Authorities seized weapons, 46 vehicles, $14,000 in cash, and 174 birds. They also found alcohol, marijuana, and odd items like a skull on a truck grill.
Who were among the arrested individuals?
Among the arrested were 14 men and one woman, including several Cubans. Notable names include Sharon Kay Miller and José García.
What will happen to the seized roosters?
The 174 roosters seized are under the care of animal welfare organizations and will not be returned to any of the participants.
Are there any broader implications of this bust?
The raid highlights the prevalence of illegal cockfighting rings and the involvement of Cuban nationals, raising concerns about animal cruelty and illegal gambling activities.