Juan Romo, Hector Romo, Israel Gomez and Antonio Bermejo were arrested May 6, according to a report released today.
Authorities are still looking for Jamie Bermejo Gibrann, according to reports.
The men face up to five years in prison or the possibility of a fine of $2,500.
An investigation into the fighting ring began on March 17 when Loudoun County Animal Services were called to a property in Sterling in response to an unsubstantiated complaint about an abused horse.
Officers did however find a large number of roosters on the property that were being housed in a manner consistent with cockfighting.
Authorities executed search warrants at four properties in Sterling and Leesburg, including at 24929 Evergreen Mill Road, the home of Hector Romo.
During the search, according to a warrant filed with the Loudoun Circuit Court, deputies found 20 birds, which were separately housed, sparring gloves, medicine, needles and syringes for possible performing enhancing drugs or antibiotics.
Officers with Animal Services worked with deputies and investigators from the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and Leesburg Police Department during the investigation.
Cockfighting is an illegal activity in which roosters are specifically bred for aggressiveness in battle.
The animals are pitted against one another in a fight to the death. Roosters used in cockfighting are trained and conditioned to inflict maximum injury against their opponent. Performance-enhancing drugs are administered to the animals to bolster their aggressiveness.
“Officers with the Loudoun County Department of Animal Services are trained to recognize and respond to incidents of animal fighting. The animals involved in these cases pay the ultimate price for the participant’s cruelty and negligence.
"Our officers are trained to combat this senseless violence and exploitation, not only on behalf of the animals involved but for the general well-being of the community as a whole. This type of violent criminal activity will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Animal Services Chief Mark Stacks.
Anyone who has information regarding suspected animal cruelty or animal fighting is urged to contact the Loudoun County Department of Animal Services at 703-777-0406. As in this case, an unrelated animal cruelty complaint could lead to the discovery of alleged criminal activity beyond the initial complaint.
Rewards of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in dogfighting or cockfighting are made available through organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Anyone who has information about illegal animal fighting may call the HSUS animal fighting tip line at 877-TIP-HSUS and their information will be kept confidential.
(Loudoun Times-Mirror - May 12, 2015)
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