A grand jury has indicted 48 people, including 36 New Jersey residents, in an alleged cockfighting ring that was broken up by authorities in Atlantic County last year.
Detectives started investigating the operation when they found digital invitations to one of the fights, which was scheduled for March 2024, authorities said.
The invitations eventually led investigators to an arena in Galloway where the events were being held, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office said.
A search of the arena found dozens of roosters suffering from injuries and mutilation, as well as four dogs that were being kept in harsh conditions, authorities said. One of the dogs had to undergo life-saving surgery due to the severity of its condition.
The arena was located in the garage of a home on South Bremen Avenue, the Press of Atlantic City reported. Detectives also found cockfighting kits, cocaine and $37,000 in cash that was believed to be the proceeds of gambling, according to the newspaper.
A grand jury indicted the 48 alleged participants on Wednesday. The indictment includes various charges including animal cruelty, mutilation of animals, witnessing or paying admission to attend an event involving animal fighting and gambling on animal fighting, prosecutors said.
The organizer of the fights, Jose Madera, 33, of Egg Harbor City, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of animal cruelty, resisting arrest by flight and other charges in August 2024, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office is asking anyone with tips about the case or any other cases involving the fighting of animals to call its major crime unit at 609-909-7666.
Stories by Nicolas Fernandes
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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.