Largest Recorded Cockfighting Bust in New York’s History
- 10 years ago
Recently, New York authorities busted three locations running the largest cock-fighting ring in state history.
Viewed by most as animal cruelty and a public safety threat, cockfighting is illegal in all 50 American states. Recently, New York authorities busted three locations running the largest cock-fighting ring in state history.
Working together with the Department of Homeland Security, ASPCA, and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force simultaneously raided a facility in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, the Pet NV pet shop in Brooklyn, and a 90-acre poultry farm in upstate Plattekill.
At the farm, they seized about 3,000 roosters already bred, trained, and injected with drugs meant to enhance performance. These birds were sold to the other two locations where they lived and fought.
In the pet shop, they found 50 caged roosters in the basement, along with cockfighting contraband like candle wax, spurs, and syringes. Police arrested the 74-year-old owner, Jeremias Nieves.
In the Queens facility that held fights with admission fees twice per month, 70 people were taken into custody. More contraband was found in addition to more roosters, illegally-sold alcohol, and drugs.
Viewed by most as animal cruelty and a public safety threat, cockfighting is illegal in all 50 American states. Recently, New York authorities busted three locations running the largest cock-fighting ring in state history.
Working together with the Department of Homeland Security, ASPCA, and the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force simultaneously raided a facility in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, the Pet NV pet shop in Brooklyn, and a 90-acre poultry farm in upstate Plattekill.
At the farm, they seized about 3,000 roosters already bred, trained, and injected with drugs meant to enhance performance. These birds were sold to the other two locations where they lived and fought.
In the pet shop, they found 50 caged roosters in the basement, along with cockfighting contraband like candle wax, spurs, and syringes. Police arrested the 74-year-old owner, Jeremias Nieves.
In the Queens facility that held fights with admission fees twice per month, 70 people were taken into custody. More contraband was found in addition to more roosters, illegally-sold alcohol, and drugs.