By Alex Robinson and Sarina Trangle
Investigators raided a cockfighting ring in the basement of a vacant storefront in Woodhaven this weekend as part of the largest bust of its kind in New York State history, state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said.
Authorities arrested six of the more than 70 people they said were crowded into 74-26 Jamaica Ave. Saturday night, including Orlando Bautista, 51, a Woodhaven resident who was listed on real estate websites as a broker with the business next door, 1st Century Realty.
Bautista was charged with animal fighting, a felony, along with five others, Schneiderman said.
He could not immediately be reached for comment.
“This investigation – one of the largest in U.S. history – illustrates the prevalence of cockfighting in America, its brutal nature and the link to other illegal activities,” Schneiderman said in a statement. “Cockfighting is a cruel, abusive and barbaric practice that tortures animals, endangers the health and safety of the public and is known to facilitate other crimes.”
Schneiderman’s Organized Crime Fighting Task Force, state police and the Department of Homeland Security seized 65 birds from the basement where they said bimonthly fights have been held since at least May.
The ring charged an admission fee and had security personnel on staff to frisk attendees, authorities said. Once in the basement, the attorney general said, drugs were used openly and alcohol was served without a liquor license.
The cockfighting organizers paid a referee to supervise cocks as they fought to death, Schneiderman said. He said gamblers wagered up to $10,000 on such matches.
An owner of a nearby business said he watched gleefully as authorities closed in on the ring this weekend. He said the cockfighting ring often clogged a communal driveway shared by shops.
“It was about time that they got him,” said the man, who requested anonymity for fear of his safety. “It ain’t the first time the incident has occurred.”
As part of the bust, which authorities called Operation Angry Birds, investigators searched Pet NV in Brooklyn Saturday night. They founds 55 fighting birds that appeared to be trained and altered for battle alongside spurs, candle wax, medical adhesive tape, syringes used to inject performance-enhancing drugs and other cockfighting paraphernalia, according to the attorney general.
The shop’s owner, Jeremias Nieves, 74, was arrested and charged with prohibition of animal fighting, Schneiderman said.
The next day, investigators raided a farm in the upstate town of Plattekill. Authorities said the 90-acre farm charged rent to board, feed, care and train for fighting birds owned by people along the East Coast. It operated under the guise of a live poultry business by hiding cages in the center of the property, according to Schneiderman.
Roosters bred and trained at the farm were transported to the Queens and Brooklyn fighting arenas busted this weekend, the attorney general’s office said.
Farm manager Manuel Cruz, 60, and farm hand Jesus Cruz, 37, were arrested and charged with animal fighting, the AG said.
The close to 3,000 birds found on the farm along with others rescued in the bust were handed over to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566. Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
