NYE COUNTY (KTNV) — Three people have been arrested, hundreds of birds are in custody and thousands of dollars were seized after an investigation into possible cockfighting in Nye County.
The Nye County Sheriff's Office executed two search warrants and two separate Pahrump locations for allegedly breeding and training birds for illegal fighting activities.
During the operations, Jorge Guzman Torres, Grisel Juarez Diaz and Ignacio Juarez Gomez were arrested.
Torres is in the U.S. on a permanent resident card and is facing the following charges:
- 56 felony counts of owning a bird for the purpose of cockfighting
- 56 felony counts of animal abuse
- 2 felony counts of operating a residence for the purpose of cockfighting
- 1 gross misdemeanor count of conspiracy to operate a residence for the purpose of cockfighting
- 63 gross misdemeanor counts of possession of a gaff (a curved round metal spike that tapers to a needle-sharp point, resembling a miniature ice pick)
- 9 felony counts of possession of personal identifying information to establish a false identity or status
Diaz, whose immigration status is pending, is facing charges including:
- 29 felony counts of owning a bird for the purpose of cockfighting
- 1 felony count of maintaining a residence for the purpose of cockfighting
- 1 gross misdemeanor count of conspiracy to operate a residence for the purpose of cockfighting
- 29 felony counts of animal abuse
- 63 gross misdemeanor counts of possession of a gaff
Gomez, who Nye County authorities said is undocumented, is being charged with:
- 1 felony count of operating a premises for the purpose of cockfighting
- 1 felony count of owning a bird for the purpose of cockfighting
- 1 gross misdemeanor count of conspiracy to operate a residence for the purpose of cockfighting
- 20 gross misdemeanor counts of possession of a gaff
- 1 felony count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm
Items seized during the execution of the warrants included cockfighting implements, 11 firearms, 478 birds, and more than $60,000 in cash.
This large-scale operation involved multiple agencies and divisions, including Homeland Security Investigations, United States Department of Agriculture, Nye County Animal Control, Nye County Sheriff's Office SWAT and the Sheriff’s Auxiliary Unit.
-
What LVMPD's use of force report shows over the course of five years
On Friday, Channel 13 obtained a copy of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's (LVMPD) "Use of Force and Vehicle Pursuit Annual 5-Year Statistical Report 2021-2025."
Driver accused in car theft that led to passenger's death indicted by grand jury
Harold Allen is facing charges of murder, auto grand larceny, battery with use of a deadly weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, and reckless driving resulting in substantial bodily harm.
LVMPD search for suspects after man apparently beaten to death
It happened around 6:19 a.m. in the 900 block of East Sahara Avenue, near Baker Park, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Police: Woman with gunshot wound found dead on east Las Vegas sidewalk
She was found in the 1200 block of North Eastern Avenue, between Owens and Washington, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
