Seven Individuals Charged with Gamecock Fighting, Illegal Gambling
Federal law enforcement officials recently arrested seven individuals in Ridgeville, South Carolina, on charges for their involvement in a gamecock fighting venture and illegal gambling operation. A federal indictment charges these defendants with animal fighting venture, illegal gambling operation, conspiracy to violate animal fighting venture, and false statements to federal law enforcement.
Prosecutors allege the following individuals conspired to and participated in animal fighting and illegal gambling: Roy Michael Limehouse, 65; Roosevelt Curry, 67; Joey Leverane Brown Jr., 41; Shannon Hubert Baxley, 49; James Franklin Rountree, 51; Jeremy Allen Bessinger, 40; and Brandon Isaiah McLaughlin, 24. Baxley also faces an additional charge of lying to a federal law enforcement officer.
Historically, gamecock fighting has been a prominent part of South Carolina's culture, where the state's premier university parades its gamecock mascot with pride. The blood sport is now illegal in all 50 states, but it continues to thrive in the state even after high-profile busts and sanctions.
A legal hold was placed on the property where the illegal activity took place following the indictment. Investigators also seized cash and three vehicles associated with the operation. If they convicted, they each face up to five years in prison for each charge.
Earlier this year, federal investigators began working with local authorities after following a tip. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigated the case with support from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office.
This takedown is just one of several by the USDA-OIG this year, demonstrating the office's commitment to tackling this issue.
A similar operation was dismantled in Georgia earlier this year, with three defendants found guilty of sponsoring and exhibiting an animal in a fighting venture. In California, “Chicken Joe,” was sentenced 16 months in prison and fined $25,000 for conspiring to sell, buy, possess, train, transport, deliver and receive animals intended to be used in animal fighting ventures.
“These callous showcases of death are no longer in operation, thanks to our law enforcement partnerships,” said Jason Williams, USDA-OIG Special Agent in Charge. “This agency has made animal fighting a high priority in order to demonstrate that these inhumane acts of cruelty to animals will not be tolerated.”