170 birds seized, 13 euthanized in one of the largest cockfighting busts in Texas history

POTTER COUNTY, Texas (KVII) — Nearly 200 roosters are rehabbing after one of the largest cockfighting busts in Texas history.

"A normal cockfighting ring is between 15 and 20 birds. This one with over 170 birds is just unheard of.," said Lt. Dustin Langwell with the Potter County Sheriff's Office.

On Saturday, deputies found approximately 50 people gathered around a pen where roosters were being forced to fight for entertainment of the crowd.

"Every person out there received a Class C misdemeanor. It is illegal to witness or watch a cockfighting event," said Langwell.

Ryan Hunter is one of three Texas Game Wardens who assisted in the bust.

"This was a razor blade that was taken off of one of the seized roosters. This is often applied by individuals who organize the cockfights to maximize the lethality of the birds as they are fighting," said Hunter.

Wild West Wildlife Rehabilitation Center volunteered to take the birds.

Executive Director Stephanie Brady said catching the roosters was not an easy task.

These birds are very aggressive. They have to be covered when they are around each other or have a divider between them because they will want to pull each other through the cage and kill each other," said Brady.

It took six hours to get them all back to the rehab facility.

Brady said 13 of the roosters had to be euthanized.

The organizer of the cockfighting ring, Ivan Guadelupe Herrera-Lopez, was arrested at the scene.

Deputies also found that many of the spectators were in the United States illegally.

They have been turned over to ICE and are awaiting deportation," said Langwell.

The sheriff's department turned the case over to the DA's office.