Isidro Chaparro Sanchez, 59, of Corona, entered a plea to one count of conspiracy to sponsor and exhibit roosters in an animal fighting venture, a felony carrying a possible sentence of up to five years imprisonment, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner set sentencing for July 17.

According to federal prosecutors, Sanchez conspired with four others to produce daylong cockfighting events on Sundays at a home on Duffy Street in San Bernardino for about four months last year. The location included a cockfighting ring with seating and bars serving tacos and alcoholic drinks.

Prosecutors say attendees parked — at the cost of $20 — at a different location nearly 1 mile away from the event location. They were then shuttled to the cockfighting location, where they paid $40 to enter the arena where the fights took place. Attendees could also place bets on the cockfights and participate in a raffle.

A team registering four roosters would pay an entry fee of $1,000. One of the co-defendants would collect the money, register the team’s roosters for battle, and record the weights of the roosters, papers filed in Los Angeles federal court show.

Attendees, including those who had registered their roosters, would place bets with bookmakers who collected the cash, Sanchez’s plea agreement filed in Los Angeles federal court says.

The blood sport on Duffy Street ended on Aug. 4, 2024, shortly after the arrival of almost 60 patrons, some carrying roosters. Before the first bout, special agents with the FBI armed with a search warrant raided the place.

Items seized included roughly $9,000 in cash, 50 to 100 sharp instruments or “gaffs” — curved metal spurs or blades that are attached to a rooster’s leg prior to a fight — and various types of steroids. In addition, about 200 birds, of which more than 150 were deemed to be fighting roosters by a local animal control agency, were recovered, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The four co-defendants face trial in June.

Cockfighting is a contest in which a person attaches a knife, gaff or other sharp instrument to the leg of a “gamecock” or rooster and then places the bird a few inches away from a similarly armed rooster. This results in a violent fight during which the roosters flap their wings and jump while stabbing each other with the weapons that are fastened to their legs. A cockfight ends when one rooster is dead or refuses to continue to fight. Usually, one or both roosters die after a fight, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

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RIVERSIDE, CA — A downtown Riverside smoke shop was raided last week over community complaints of alleged illegal activity, police announced.

The Riverside Police Department’s vice unit served a search warrant Thursday at DTOWN Smoke Shop, 3466 University Avenue. Inside, investigators allegedly found evidence of illegal gambling and narcotics activities. A store employee was found in possession of suspected cocaine and a loaded firearm, police said.

Agents with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration also opened an investigation into DTOWN Smoke Shop over alleged illegal sales and use of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis products.

Thursday’s bust came after the Riverside Police Department allegedly “received numerous complaints” over the last several months of possible illegal activity at the establishment.

Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to contact the RPD vice unit at RPDVice@RiversideCA.gov.

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