WASHINGTON, D.C. — Animal Wellness Action today commended the Nye County Sheriff’s Office and its federal and local partners for dismantling an alleged large-scale cockfighting operation in Pahrump, Nevada, resulting in three arrests and the seizure of 478 birds, cockfighting blades known as “gaffs,” firearms, and tens of thousands of dollars in cash.
According to news reports, investigators executed search warrants at two separate properties connected to alleged cockfighting activity. Authorities recovered 63 gaffs—razor-sharp metal weapons attached to roosters’ legs during fights—along with 11 firearms and more than $60,000 in cash. Three individuals now face numerous felony and misdemeanor charges related to cockfighting, animal abuse, firearms offenses, and conspiracy. Jorge Guzman Torres, Grisel Juarez Diaz and Ignacio Juarez Gomez were arrested.
“Law enforcement, led by Nye County authorities, broke up a massive illegal cockfighting operation,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “The discovery of cockfighting gaffs and a cache of weapons underscores the well-established connection between cockfighting and broader criminal conduct, including illegal gambling, narcotics trafficking, violence, and weapons offenses.”
Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states and under federal law. Possessing birds for fighting purposes, transporting animals for fighting, and using the U.S. mail or other interstate commerce channels to facilitate cockfighting ventures are federal felonies.
Animal Wellness Action specifically praised the collaborative work of the Nye County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Department of Agriculture, Nye County Animal Control, the Nye County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team, and the Sheriff’s Auxiliary Unit.
“These agencies sent a powerful message that organized animal fighting operations will not be tolerated,” Pacelle added. “Law enforcement officers risked their safety to shut down an operation involving hundreds of exploited animals and multiple weapons. Their actions likely prevented countless acts of cruelty.”
Cockfighting birds are commonly outfitted with razor-sharp blades or icepick-like gaffs designed to inflict maximum injury. Fights often end with birds suffering catastrophic wounds, punctured lungs, broken bones, and prolonged deaths.
Animal Wellness Action and Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) are calling for continued aggressive enforcement and passage of federal legislation to dismantle cockfighting networks permanently. At the federal level, the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, H.R. 3946 and S. 1454, would strengthen penalties for animal fighting, enhance federal enforcement tools, and target the organized criminal enterprises behind these operations. The bill is supported by the National Sheriffs’ Association, along with more than 500 other law enforcement agencies and more than 1,100 endorsing agencies and organizations. The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., Dina Titus, D-Nev., and Susie Lee, D-Nev.