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Animal Fighting Makes Big News!
LCA Cockfighting Bust
Makes the News Again.
The court case continues for
the
nation's largest cockfighting bust and more
charges are to come. The May 1, 2007 raid of a rural
cockfighting and gambling operation in Crawford County brought
about over 100 defendants.
(See photographs of bust below.)
More than 80 people were charged in Crawford County Circuit
Court with operating a gambling house, criminal use of property
or laundering criminal proceeds, engaging in a continuing
criminal gang organization or enterprise, and misdemeanor
cruelty to animals.
Those pleading guilty to misdemeanor cruelty to animals received
a one-year suspended sentence, $ 1, 000 fine, $ 1, 000
restitution and $ 170 in court costs. Restitution was charged to
compensate the federal, state, county and local agencies that
were involved in the nine-month investigation and raid on the
cockfighting operation.
About 60 people were charged in Van Buren District Court with
misdemeanor cruelty to animals, most of whom pleaded guilty to
the charge. With information provided by LCA's
Special Investigations Unit who led the bust,
along with county law enforcement officials, Arkansas State
Police and FBI agents, the crowded and popular cockfighting
arena which was operating on Shiloh Road near Cedarville in
Eastern Arkansas was raided. The raid resulted in 127 arrests.
You can help us stop animal fighting by supporting LCA today!
To learn more about animal fighting and other LCA Campaigns,
please visit our
website.
Photographs From the
Crawford County Cockfighting Bust
Dead bird with "gaff" still attached. Gaffs are steel blades
attached to the birds legs during the fight.
Dead fighting birds are put through the three red holes in this
wall. On the other side of the wall is an incinerator for
burning the birds. The wall is splattered with blood.
The "Cockpit" - handlers, referee and gamecocks are in this
enclosure during the cockfights.
Box of fighting paraphernalia; includes weapons and syringe.
Cockfighters inject their birds with various drugs to increase
alertness, aggression and for better overall performance.
Photographs courtesy of
the 21st District Arkansas Prosecutor's Office.
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