Law enforcement officers arrested a Ceres man Monday morning for being involved in the illegal blood sport of cockfighting.
The arrest of Joseph D. Sanford, 72, came after his federal grand jury indictment last Thursday. He will be arraigned at the federal courthouse in Fresno on Monday afternoon.
Listen to this article:
Sanford is charged with conspiring to violate the Animal Welfare Act, illegal possession of roosters for the purpose of fighting, and unlawfully selling roosters for an animal fighting venture. The indictment seeks the forfeiture of thousands of game fowl at his business, Joe Sanford Gamefarm.
Gamecocks Sold to Undercover Officer
Following the undercover purchase of a trio of fighting birds, law enforcement officers searched the gamefarm and found a large cockfighting enterprise consisting of 2,956 game fowl, according to court documents. It is alleged that Sanford also fights his own roosters.
The indictment further alleges that Sanford acquired and maintained medical equipment, such as scalpels, syringes, thermometers, and medications for conditioning roosters and surgically altering them by removing their wattles, combs, spurs and other body parts.
What Is Cockfighting?
Cockfighting — which involves illegal gambling —is against the law in the United States. But the fighting birds, which are called gamecocks, are bred in the Central Valley and Southern California. Gamecocks are also brought to the state from Mexico, where cockfighting is legal. Cockfights are often held in the rural areas of the Central Valley and Southern California.
These roosters are bred to kill. Their combs and wattles frequently are surgically removed. The bird’s natural spurs are also removed and, right before a match, replaced with 3-inch sharp metal talons.
A dozen federal and local agencies combined to conduct the investigation that led to Sanford’s arrest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar is prosecuting the case.
So California is spending tax payer dollars to arrest and prosecute a chicken farmer? That’s unbelievable! Deal with your drug and homeless problems. Way more important issues!
So men have become diminished to the level of a chicken. Animals are property, property have no rights. This is what the Animal Rights do. They brought humans to the level of animals in the eyes of government…. God is not happy.
Brian
December 17, 2019 at 5:53 am
So California is spending tax payer dollars to arrest and prosecute a chicken farmer? That’s unbelievable! Deal with your drug and homeless problems. Way more important issues!
Ronald
December 17, 2019 at 6:28 pm
You need to focus more on illegal Drug at Help Homeless people…Rather than prosecute an oldman who work fairly to sustained his family.
jorge
December 18, 2019 at 8:23 pm
I’m 100% agree with you brian
Jon
December 22, 2019 at 3:01 pm
This we’re my tax money going too unbelievable come on California
Chris
December 22, 2019 at 10:24 pm
Wow !arresting a 72 yr old man for raising a gamefowls jo Sanford is a good man those idiots that arrested him will never understand people like us !
Geno
December 25, 2019 at 3:24 am
Thats the problem with America they focus more on unnecessary things, instead of doing something about the drug and homeless problems
Dr. Turner
January 13, 2020 at 4:52 am
So men have become diminished to the level of a chicken. Animals are property, property have no rights. This is what the Animal Rights do. They brought humans to the level of animals in the eyes of government…. God is not happy.
Rob
January 30, 2020 at 3:03 pm
They remove the spurs do they another idiot trying to write something he knows nothing the hell about.