Massachusetts Man Gets Probation for 2022 Rhode Island Cockfighting Role

Jose Rivera, 70, was sentenced to two years of probation and fined $300 for transporting cockfighting gaffs from Massachusetts to Rhode Island.

Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Bringing Cockfighting Weapons Into Rhode Island

A 70-year-old Massachusetts man has been sentenced to two years of probation and fined $300 for his involvement in an illegal cockfighting operation, DOJ Justice News reports.

Jose Rivera was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island after pleading guilty on April 13 to violating the Animal Welfare Act. The charge stems from a 2022 operation in which Rivera traveled from Massachusetts to Rhode Island to take part in cockfights.

As part of his plea, Rivera admitted to transporting gaffs — sharp instruments designed to be attached to a rooster's leg during fights — that he had purchased in Massachusetts. He also acknowledged that the cockfights he attended were conducted for sport, wagering, and entertainment.

In addition to two years of probation, Rivera was ordered to pay a $200 fine and a $100 special assessment.

The case was announced by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Energy and Natural Resources Division and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles C. Calenda for the District of Rhode Island.

The investigation involved multiple federal and state agencies, including the USDA's Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigation, and the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Additional support came from the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Rhode Island State Police, Massachusetts State Police, the Animal Rescue League of Boston's Law Enforcement Division, and the police departments of Providence, Woonsocket, and Attleboro.

Prosecution was handled by Senior Trial Attorney Gary Donner and Assistant Chief Stephen Da Ponte of the Environmental Crimes Section, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney John McAdams for the District of Rhode Island.

Source: DOJ Justice News