Task Force arrests 56 in crackdown on illegal cock fighting

Fifty-six people have been arrested and 3,500 cock fighting birds have been seized, in a six-week operation named “Crowing Rooster” conducted by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Rural Crimes Task Force.

From June 14 through August 1, investigators served 26 search warrants throughout the County of San Bernardino. Ten subjects were arrested for felony crimes and 46 subjects for misdemeanor crimes including animal cruelty. Additionally, investigators seized more than $259,000.00 in U.S. currency, recovered 12 firearms (including three ghost guns), and seized 12 ounces of cocaine, 11.5 ounces of methamphetamine, and 6 grams of fentanyl with a street value of about $11,000.00.

The following subjects were arrested during the six-week operation:

Mark Garcia, age of 39, Yucaipa
Anthony Garcia, age of 73, Yucaipa
Julian Garcia, age of 52, San Bernardino
Horacio Garcia, age of 72, San Bernardino
Jose Rodriguez, age of 31, Riverside
Ramiro Medina, age of 66, San Bernardino
Telesforo Ladero, age of 58, San Bernardino
Darwin Geronimo, age of 47, Fontana
Braulio Hernandez, age of 59, Lucerne Valley
Jose Alvarez, age of 56, Chino
Juan Cardoza, age of 41, Chino
Humberto Hernandez, age of 46, Chino
Sergio Luquin, age of 52, Los Angeles
Carlos Rodas, age of 58, Chino
Jazmin Mercado, age of 30, Chino
Jose Velasquez, age of 64, Chino
Jose Hernandez, age of 25, San Bernardino
Fernando Cabrera, age of 32, San Bernardino
Carlos Guadalupe, age of 32, San Bernardino
Male Juvenile, age of 16, San Bernardino
Carols Benites, age of 64, Phelan
Miguel Estrada Asquez age of 36, Fontana
Miguel Estrada, age of 61, Fontana
Antonio Garcia Mora, age of 53, Hesperia
Antonio Garcia, age of 32, Hesperia
Guadalupe Sanchez, age of 73, San Bernardino
Enrique Tamayo Campos, age of 56, Landers
Antonio Marquez, age of 67, San Bernardino
David Marquez Sanchez, age of 40, San Bernardino
Angel Sanchez Becerra, age of 33, San Bernardino
Francisco Hernandez Gutierrez, age of 42, San Bernardino
Jesus Solis Martinez, age of 46, Highland
Mayra Marquez Sanchez, age of 36, San Bernardino
Erick Virgen, age of 22, Rialto
Francisco Sandoval, age of 59, Coachella
Cesar Villegas Carbarin, age of 47, Riverside
Ernestor Reyes, age of 31, Hesperia
Jorge Garcia, age of 64, Long Beach
Alberto Aguayo, age of 29, Adelanto
Francisco Sanchez, age of 49, San Bernardino
Alejandro Uribe, age of 69, Camarillo
Jose Saucedo, age of 56, Los Angeles
Franco Marco Sanchez, age of 43, Jurupa Valley
Jesus Bugarin, age of 34, Phelan
Felipe Camacho, age of 32, Phelan
Gerardo Perez, age of 60, Hesperia
Jose Jimenez Leon, age of 58, Hesperia
Jorge Alcaraz Pineda, age of 44, Hesperia
Edyt Marquez, age of 48, Hesperia
Felipe Camacho, age of 32, Phelan
Jose Solis Martinez, age of 49, Highland
Jorge Ordonez Hernandez, age of 50, San Bernardino
Efren Vargas Gomez, age of 40, San Bernardino
Efren Villanueva Hernandez, age of 49, Phelan
Estefania Villanueva Mendoza, age of 28, Phelan

The task force consisted of deputies from Victor Valley Station Rural Crimes, Victor Valley Station, Twin Peaks Station, San Bernardino County Probation, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, and San Bernardino County Code Enforcement. San Bernardino County Animal Care Services, Hesperia Animal Control, Hesperia Code Enforcement, and Highland Code Enforcement assisted with the operation.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Victor Valley station at (760) 552-6800 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.