Deputies bust cockfighting ring, find 400 roosters in cages, NC sheriff says
Deputies busted one of the largest cockfighting rings in Forsyth County history this week, arresting six people and seizing a kilo of cocaine, sheriff’s officials said.
Investigators found 400 roosters in cages at a home in the 7000 block of Baux Mountain Road in Winston-Salem, according to a sheriff’s office Facebook post.
Deputies responded to someone’s call to make an animal welfare check at the home on Wednesday and recovered 400 roosters, officials said.
A kilo of cocaine has an average street value of $28,000 to $30,000, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Deputies also seized guns and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Edward Thomas Marin, 29, of Winston-Salem, was arrested on felony charges of maintaining a dwelling, possession of cocaine, trafficking cocaine, weapon possession by a felon and cock fighting, and misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession.
Arrested on felony cock fighting charges were Winston-Salem residents Joxin Trinidadvargas, 25, Filogonio Garcia Gonzalez, 71, Mike Allen Lopeznoyola, 25, and Jose Raul Cruzavila, 46, and a minor.
Officers urged anyone with information about the ring to call the sheriff’s office at 336-727-2112 or the Crimestoppers anonymous tips line at 336-727-2800 for English and 336-728-3904 for Spanish.