What authorities say was an underground cockfighting ring in Van Zandt County was shut down Thursday, after investigators rolled onto a rural property east of Dallas and left with nearly 200 birds, stacks of cash and a local man in handcuffs.
Deputies and animal welfare investigators reported seizing 174 roosters and seven hens, along with thousands of dollars in cash and specialized fighting gear. The birds were hauled to a Dallas rescue facility for veterinary checks, and a Grand Saline man was arrested on a cockfighting charge, a state jail felony. A civil custody hearing over the birds is set for Wednesday in Canton, while officials keep the criminal probe open.
CBS News Texas identified the suspect as Justin Blake Hart of Grand Saline. Investigators also confiscated about $55,000 in cash, vehicles, trailers, electronic devices, and cockfighting paraphernalia. The raid took place roughly 70 miles east of Dallas, with the SPCA of Texas assisting. Authorities described the haul as significant and said they are still working on the case.
SPCA Takes Custody, Birds Sent To Dallas
The SPCA of Texas said the seized birds were transported to the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center in Dallas for evaluation and treatment while the courts sort out who gets permanent custody, according to a statement reported by the SPCA of Texas.
"Cockfighting is a cruel and illegal activity that's often connected to organized crime and other criminal activity that threatens the safety of our communities," Courtney Burns, chief investigator with the SPCA of Texas' Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit, said, as quoted by CBS News Texas. Both SPCA investigators and law enforcement note that cases like this can take months of quiet work before they have enough evidence for both criminal charges and civil custody actions.
What Texas Law Says
Texas law makes it a state jail felony to cause birds to fight or to use property for cockfighting, a charge that can bring up to two years in state jail and a fine of as much as $10,000. Possessing or selling cockfighting paraphernalia, or owning or training birds for fighting, can carry misdemeanor penalties. Those provisions are outlined in the state cruelty statute, according to Justia.
The same law says even spectators can face misdemeanor charges for attending a fight. Federal statutes can also come into play when animals or money move across state lines, and prosecutors often pair criminal counts with civil actions to permanently remove animals and seek restitution for their care.
Not The First Raid In Van Zandt County
Authorities in Van Zandt County have been here before. In October 2024, deputies and the SPCA seized 74 birds from a rural property, and two men were arrested in another alleged cockfighting operation. A judge later awarded custody of those birds to the SPCA, according to KLTV.
Local coverage at the time described makeshift arenas, gaffs, and transport boxes, details authorities say are common across underground fighting rings. Animal welfare advocates argue that repeat busts in the same region point to a stubborn, clandestine market that is tough to shut down without coordinated enforcement and tips from neighbors willing to speak up.
What Happens Next
The seized birds are at least temporarily out of the fight game, pending the Wednesday civil custody hearing in Canton. Prosecutors say the criminal investigation is still active. Anyone with information about suspected cockfighting in Van Zandt County is urged to contact the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office.
