MAYS LANDING, N.J. – A grand jury in Atlantic County indicted 48 individuals Wednesday in connection with an illegal cockfighting operation, authorities said.
An investigation led by Det. Mark Kienzle of the Galloway Township Police Department uncovered electronic invitations to a planned cockfight in March 2024. Law enforcement agencies, including the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, intervened and stopped the event at an arena specifically built for rooster fighting.
Authorities arrested the defendants and charged them with offenses such as animal cruelty, gambling on animal fighting, and resisting arrest. Officers also seized dozens of roosters, many of which had injuries, as well as four dogs, three of which were kept in poor conditions. One required emergency surgery.
The alleged organizer, Jose Madera, and an attendee, Roberto Soto, were not indicted, as their cases were resolved through accusations in lieu of indictment.
Authorities say the bust dismantled a large-scale animal fighting operation in New Jersey.
The defendants indicted on February 26, include:
Stephanie Kaneshiro, 34, Galloway Township, NJ;
Patricio Acosta, 66, Philadelphia, PA
Josue Arroyo, 52, Vineland, NJ
Arroyo Blanco, 41, Perth Amboy, NJ
Juan Carrion, 46, Philadelphia, PA
Guillermo Celada 64, Camden, NJ
Joseph Cubi-Camacho; 27, Vineland, NJ
Berdover Diaz, 46, Hammonton, NJ
Peter Rios, 51, Lumberton, NJ
Peter Rios, Jr.28, Blackwood, NJ
Dominigo Duran-Montesino, 42, Camden, NJ
Rudis Perez Perez, 46
Luis Fernandez-Tavarez, 37, North Bergen, NJ
Yomery Richardo-Perez, 31, Camden, NJ
Juan Pena-Duran, 34, Hamilton, NJ
Bienvenid Polanco, 61, Tappen, NY
Lolitha Glenn, 52, Greenwich, NJ
Jason Gonzalez, 45, Warminster, PA
Luiggi Jimenez-Diaz, 31, Trenton, NJ
Rafael Hernandez, 70, Philadelphia, PA
Jimmy Hadden, 51, Greenwich, NJ
Guillermo Polanco, 69, Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Walter Jones, 53, Vineland, NJ
Anthony Lugo, 41, Vineland, NJ
Luis Roman, 63, Trenton, NJ
Pedro Rodriguez-Santiago, 49, Philadelphia, PA
Angel Ocasio, 41, Bridgeton, NJ
Ramon Rosa, 58, Hamilton, NJ
Felipe Perez, 60, Philadelphia, PA
Juan Solino-Valerio, 38, Elizabeth, NJ
Irving Perez, 34, Millville, NJ
Juan Perez, 41, Pennsauken, NJ
Jose Quinones, 52, Warminster, PA
Steven Sotnychuk, 56, Vineland, NJ
Javier Santos-Gonzales, 33, Pleasantville, NJ
Miguel Torres, 61, Columbus, NJ
Kenny Tejada-Torres, 24, Perth Amboy, NJ
Jose Torres-Peralta, 46, Philadelphia, PA
Leowis Valerio-Jaquez, 41, Perth Amboy, NJ
Louis Vazquez, 41, Perth Amboy, NJ
Miquel Rodriguez, 55, Camden, NJ
Daniel Vargas-Baez, 36, Camden, NJ
Victor Rodriquez, 52, Camden, NJ
Alan Ramirez-Rodriguez, 30, Allentown, PA
Jose Valerio, 63, Perth Amboy, NJ
Rafael Quinones-Serrano, 52, Bristol, PA
Luis Rivera-Campos, 37, Camden, NJ, and,
Felix Medina, 65, Trenton, NJ