Arrests Made in Cockfighting Ring Bust Spanning Rhode Island and Massachusetts

Federal agents have arrested six individuals from Rhode Island and Massachusetts in connection with a nationwide crackdown on illegal cockfighting operations. The arrests are part of a larger investigation into criminal rings that organize brutal rooster fights, in which birds are outfitted with razor-sharp blades for deadly combat.

Since January, 45 individuals have been indicted by grand juries in California, Rhode Island, and Washington State for their involvement in illegal cockfighting, according to records from the Department of Justice (DOJ). The charges are primarily based on violations of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Act, a federal law designed to combat animal cruelty associated with staged animal fights. The DOJ emphasizes that it is illegal to sponsor or participate in animal fights, attend as a spectator, or bring minors to these events. Additionally, it is a federal crime to buy, sell, train, or transport animals for fighting.

The latest arrests focus on a Rhode Island man, Miguel Delgado, who is accused of running a series of cockfighting derbies in 2022 at his Providence home. According to prosecutors, Delgado, along with five other men, organized these events, housing roosters specifically bred for combat. The group allegedly purchased weapons, including steel blades known as gaffs, which were attached to the roosters during the fights. The derbies took place in February and March of 2022.

While the exact roles of the six individuals in the cockfighting ring remain unclear, all of the accused have pleaded not guilty. If convicted, they could face up to five years in prison. The case is part of a broader federal effort to crack down on animal fighting, with similar charges recently brought against individuals in California, where cockfighting events have drawn large crowds and involved betting.

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Related Content:

• Deputies Kill Seized Cockfighting Roosters in Washington
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• Cockfighting Ring Busted in Pennsylvania Saving Dozens of Animals
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