Four people are facing felony charges after Rusk County deputies discovered dozens of dead roosters and evidence of an illegal cockfighting operation on a rural property in East Texas, authorities said.
Deputies responded Saturday to a property off Farm-to-Market Road 839 in the Reklaw area after receiving information about cockfighting activity at the location. Upon arrival, they found 56 dead roosters, along with equipment and materials commonly associated with organized cockfighting. Eleven roosters were found alive and seized from the property.
Four people were arrested at the scene: Crystal Velazquez, 21; Christopher Juarez, 19; Gerardo Rangel, 47; and Francisco Guerrero, 57. All four face felony charges of cockfighting under Texas law, as well as misdemeanor charges of evading arrest, according to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office.
Cockfighting is a felony in Texas under the Texas Penal Code. Participants, organizers, and spectators can all face criminal charges, with penalties ranging from state jail felonies to third-degree felonies depending on the role of each individual.
The investigation is ongoing. Rusk County is located approximately 120 miles southeast of Dallas.