Following a tip provided by Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK), the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office busted a large illegal cockfighting event near Athens, Texas, according to a joint press release from three animal welfare activist groups.
Authorities disrupted the gathering, attended by an estimated 200–300 people, many of whom fled into nearby woods. The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 25 vehicles, 89 live roosters, two deceased birds, and a significant amount of cash.
The bust began around 12:15 p.m. on July 13 in the 7500 block of County Road 3918, following a tip that alerted deputies to the suspected activity. Investigators discovered a fighting arena and sharp metal gaffs used in the matches, along with evidence of ongoing cruelty.
Henderson County Animal Control assisted, and a search warrant enabled further investigation. Nine individuals — Jesus David Garza, Carlos Estrada-Guerrero, Christy Nikol Bass, Victor Hernandez Flores, Juan Carlos Flores, Thomas Urbano Flores, Shannon Dean Kellis, Otis Darren Thomas, and Allan Joseph Jernigan — were arrested and booked into the Henderson County Jail on cockfighting charges.
“This cockfighting pit in Henderson County is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Steve Hindi, president of SHARK. “It’s part of a sprawling, interstate animal fighting syndicate that traffics birds domestically and internationally.”
The bust follows recent efforts by Animal Wellness Action and SHARK, who have infiltrated a dozen fighting pits across Texas and Oklahoma counties, including Dallas, Ellis, Hunt, Titus, Kaufman, and Martin.
On July 4, their undercover video near Mt. Pleasant in Titus County led to the arrest of cockfighting figure Tim Thompson. In March, evidence from the groups led to 21 arrests in Hunt County, according to a press release by SHARK, Animal Wellness Action, and the Center for Humane Economy.
The investigation extended into Oklahoma, where operatives filmed Anthony Devore and Blake Pearce, co-founders of the United States Gamefowl Commission, participating in illegal cockfights in McIntosh County. The pair also led the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission. They supported the Texas Gamefowl Breeders Association, which, along with the organization, advocates for weaker anti-cockfighting laws, despite claiming no involvement in such activities.
The activist organizations alleged in the press release that the United States Gamefowl Commission serves as a front group for cockfighters.
No arrests have been made at this point in the investigation, but the groups demand action, and the Oklahoma Ethics Commission is now probing the Oklahoma Gamefowl Commission.
“We want to thank the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office for taking immediate action to stop this barbaric animal cruelty,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Animal Wellness Action. “The cockfighting corridor that stretches from Tulsa to Dallas is rife with cockfighting pits and illicit gamefowl operations.”
The organizations, joined by the Center for a Humane Economy, are urging Congress to pass the Fighting Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Trafficking (FIGHT) Act (HR 3946 and SB 1454), backed by the National Sheriff’s Association, the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas, and local sheriffs.
Cosponsors include Texas Reps. Lloyd Doggett (D), Lance Gooden (R), and Troy Nehls (R), and Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R), alongside a bipartisan group led by Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Kennedy (R-LA), and Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Andrea Salinas (D-OR).