68 arrested, $20,000 in cash seized at weekend raid of alleged cockfighting ring in Hesperia

HESPERIA - More than $20,000 in cash and 63 live roosters were seized and 68 arrests made Saturday when a San Bernardino County Sheriff's task force raided a cockfighting event in a plywood barn on the rural outskirts of this city.
Nearly half of those in custody - 32 - had immigration (INS) holds placed on them, sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller said. The arrests were for alleged felony and misdemeanor offenses.

Upon arrival, deputies comprising the Rural Crimes Task Force found more than a dozen dead roosters - 14 in all - whose carcasses were on the ground or stuffed in barrels surrounding a fiberglass fighting arena.

Deputies seized more than $20,000 in cash that was being used for gambling in addition to

approximately 63 live roosters, according to a sheriff's news release.
The suspected event organizer and owner of the property, 20-year-old La Puente resident Daniel Urena, was among nine people suspected of felonious conduct. The others include Efrain Tello, 32, of Van Nuys, Julio Sanchez, 35, of Los Angeles, Rafael Beas, 59, of Victorville, Jose Luis Sanchez, 42, of Riverside, Gomez Saul Santibanez, 46, of Riverside, Miquel Morales, 34, of Lynwood, and Herberto Gutierrez, 25, of Palmdale. One 15-year-old was also arrested on felony offenses.

All 68 suspects were booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. It was not clear which ones had INS holds placed on them.

Urena, who was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty and the illegal transport of animals, posted bond on $25,000 bail and was released from custody on Sunday, Miller said.

Deputies from the Victor Valley station received an anonymous tip Saturday about the cockfighting event, which took place in the 14000 block of Summit Valley Road. Deputies from Hesperia, Apple Valley, Barstow, Fontana, Big Bear, San Bernardino, Yucaipa, Chino Hills and the Morongo Basin assisted in the raid. Two helicopters were also deployed, as well as county code enforcement officers, Adelanto Animal Control officers and agents from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

"Our Rural Crimes Task Force is committed to investigating agriculture related crimes and animal abuse. We will not let or allow this blood sport to flourish in the County of San Bernardino,' Sheriff Rod Hoops said in the news release.

Investigators plan to submit their case to the District Attorney's Office today for consideration of criminal charges, Miller said.