The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office uncovered an alleged underground cockfighting operation on Tuesday at a property in the southwest part of the county. This operation was found to house hundreds of roosters and featured a fighting arena with numbered seating for spectators, as reported by Univision Miami.
The operation took place at a location on 22121 SW 309th Street, within the agricultural area known as Redland. Deputies, alongside Animal Services officials, executed a search warrant and inspected the approximately five-acre property.
Findings on the Property
Inside the premises, officials discovered numerous training pits and a large, permanently constructed fighting arena. The area was equipped with numbered seats for spectators and a scoreboard to track the wins and losses of the various teams involved, according to an arrest report referenced by Univision Miami.
Authorities also seized items such as vitamins, syringes, medications, stimulants for roosters, and spurs, which were linked to the preparation of the animals for fights. The examined roosters showed signs of previous fights, including missing feathers, open wounds, cropped combs, and removed natural spurs, as noted in a police report shared by Telemundo 51.
Details on the Arrests
Jesús Fabian Oliva, 41, was identified in the police report as the property owner, though he claimed during questioning that he only owned some of the roosters. According to Telemundo 51, Oliva denied any current use of the animals for fighting on the premises.
He also stated that he had ceased participating in such activities but acknowledged the presence of a fighting arena, training pits, and equipment that he claimed were no longer in use. Oliva faces charges related to public health risks, organizing animal fights, and animal cruelty, among other offenses.
Ángel Ponce-Maqueda, 29, was found in a trailer on the property, surrounded by caged roosters, a training pit, and a stimulant device. He claimed he did not own the animals but was responsible for feeding and watering them daily. He faces charges connected to animal fighting and cruelty.
Both individuals appeared before a judge and were subsequently taken to the TGK jail. Bail was set at $15,000 for Oliva and $10,000 for Ponce-Maqueda. Authorities continue to investigate to determine if additional individuals were involved.
Recent Crackdown on Cockfighting in Miami-Dade
This operation comes just weeks after a larger scale seizure in the Horse Country area, where the FBI discovered thousands of roosters on a 10-acre farm earlier in October. That incident led to the arrest of Carlos Rafael Lezcano, followed by two more arrests.
On October 9, authorities euthanized over 3,100 roosters from that farm, marking it as the largest operation of its kind in the county's history. In Florida, under Statute 828.122, engaging in various activities related to animal fighting constitutes a third-degree felony. This includes organizing fights, training animals for fighting, or maintaining facilities for these activities, with penalties reaching up to five years in prison and fines up to $5,000, depending on the case circumstances.
Rosie Cordero-Stutz, the Miami-Dade Sheriff, has emphasized following a prior operation that animal fighting is inhumane and frequently linked to other serious criminal activities.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cockfighting Laws and Enforcement in Florida
What are the legal consequences of organizing animal fights in Florida?
In Florida, organizing animal fights is considered a third-degree felony, which can lead to up to five years in prison and fines up to $5,000.
What evidence did authorities find at the Miami-Dade property?
Officials discovered numerous training pits, a large fighting arena, vitamins, syringes, medications, stimulants, and spurs, all indicative of preparations for cockfighting.
Who were the individuals arrested in the Miami-Dade operation?
Jesús Fabian Oliva and Ángel Ponce-Maqueda were arrested. Oliva was identified as the property owner, while Ponce-Maqueda was found on-site, responsible for the care of the roosters.