Six men charged in alleged cockfighting venture

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Six men had their initial court appearance on September 16th after being charged in a five-court indictment with violating the Animal Welfare Act for alleged cockfighting.

The indictment alleges that on March 6, 2022, Miguel Delgado, 73, of Providence hosted a sequence of cockfights, also known as “derbies.”

The cockfighting allegedly took place at his home over multiple days, and he is charged with sponsoring and exhibiting roosters in animal fighting, buying and transporting sharp instruments and gaffs for cockfight use, and unlawfully possessing roosters for use in an animal fighting venture.

Onill Vasquez Lozada, 39, and Antonia Ledee Rivera, both of Rhode Island, were charged with the unlawful possession of roosters in April 2021 for use in animal fighting, as well as sponsoring and exhibiting roosters at Delgado’s home for the March 2022 derby.

Germidez Kingsley Jamie, 31; Jose Rivera, 67; and Luis Castillo, 35, all residents of Massachusetts, were charged with sponsoring and exhibiting roosters at an animal fighting venture at the March 2022 derby.

Jamie and Jose Rivera are additionally charged with one count of purchasing and transporting gaffs for animal fighting use.

Cockfighting is a competition in which an individual attaches a sharp object such as a knife or gaff to a gamecock’s leg, and fights another armed gamecock.

The birds flap their wings and jump with the weapons fastened to their legs, stabbing until their death or if they refuse to fight.

If convicted of Animal Welfare Violations, each defendant can face a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

To report animal fighting crimes, contact your local law enforcement or the USDA-OIG’s complaint hotline.