A federal grand jury has returned a two-count indictment charging five individuals with orchestrating a large-scale cockfighting operation in Blount County, Alabama — including illegal gambling and violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
Authorities allege the group hosted multiple “cockfight derbies” from March through June 2025. Spectators paid $40 to attend, while contestants entered birds—often equipped with gaffs (dagger-like spurs tied to their legs)—for entry fees between $700–$1,000. Winners claimed a portion of a prize pool reportedly reaching tens of thousands per event.
Investigators claim the operation was intertwined with illegal gambling and other criminal activities, including drug trafficking and violent offenses. More than $100,000 in cash and two firearms were confiscated during a raid.
The case stems from a multi-agency effort led by the Gulf of America Homeland Security Task Force, joined by ICE – Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, IRS Criminal Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, USDA Office of Inspector General, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, with support from U.S. Marshals, Customs & Border Protection, and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
This enforcement is part of a broader DOJ initiative, known as Operation Take Back America, aimed at disrupting illicit activities—from cartels and violent crime to illegal immigration—by pooling federal and local law enforcement resources.
