NEWS RELEASE
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
WESTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA
John L. Brownlee United States Attorney Jo Brooks Media Contact |
BB&T Building 310 1st Street, S.W., Room 906 Roanoke, Virginia 24011 (540) 857-2250 FAX (540) 857-2180 |
September 20, 2007
FOUR PERSONS ARE CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY AND ILLEGALLY OPERATING A COCKFIGHTING AND GAMBLING RING
United States Attorney John L. Brownlee announced today that Dale Edward MORELAND, age 52, of Winchester, Virginia; Luis Aguirre MARTINEZ, age 49, of Manassas, Virginia; Albert C. TAYLOR, age 65, of Luray, Virginia; and, Charles Leo KINGREA, age 60, of Gordonsville, Virginia, were indicted by a federal Grand Jury sitting in Abingdon, Virginia.
The Defendants were charged in the Indictment with Conspiracy; Sponsoring Cockfights in Which Roosters were Transported Across State Lines; Illegal Possession of Gaffs and Knives to be Used in Cockfighting; Operating a Gambling Enterprise; and, Money Laundering. A new federal law went into effect on May 3, 2007, which increased the federal Cockfighting penalty from a misdemeanor to a felony and outlawed the possession of knives and gaffs to be used in cockfights. This is the first prosecution charging the new Federal felony animal fighting venture law. Gaffs and knives are sharp instruments that are attached to the roosters’ feet during the fights.
The investigation into this matter is continuing.
These charges arose out of an undercover operation by United States Department of Agriculture which culminated in a May 5, 2007, raid on the Little Boxwood Cockpit on Kite Hollow Road in Page County, Virginia. MARTINEZ is charged with being the owner of the cockpit; MORELAND is charged with operating the cockpit; TAYLOR is charged with paying a bribe to a Page County Official to avoid law enforcement interference at the cockpit; and, KINGREA is charged with operating a business at the cockpit that sold illegal gaffs, knives and other cockfighting accessories.
If convicted on all counts, the maximum penalty faced by MORELAND is 38 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $1.25 million; MARTINEZ faces 113 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $2 million; TAYLOR faces 33 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $1 million; and, KINGREA faces 13 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $750,000.
The investigation of the case was conducted by Special Agent Phil Barnett for the Internal Revenue Service; Special Agent Harvey Barlow for the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Special Agents Angel Plaza and Jim Knorr of the Department of Agriculture; and Special Agent Wayne Sumner of the Virginia State Police. Criminal Chief Thomas J. Bondurant, Jr., and Civil Chief Anthony Giorno will prosecute the case.
A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.