56 People Arrested, 3,500 Cockfighting Birds Seized During IE's 'Operation Crowing Rooster'

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — Fifty-six people were arrested and more than 3,500 cock fighting birds were seized during a weeks-long law enforcement investigation in the Inland Empire dubbed Operation Crowing Rooster.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department conducted the anti-animal cruelty and anti-rural crimes operation from June 14 through August 1 across multiple addresses. According to the sheriff's department, the following 26 Inland Empire locations were served search warrants by law enforcement:

• 4000 block of N. F Street, San Bernardino
• 10700 block of Larch Avenue, Bloomington
• 2400 block of W. Ogden Street, Muscoy
• 12500 block of Locust Avenue, Lucerne Valley
• 3700 block of Francis Street, Chino
• 3800 block of Francis Street, Chino
• 2600 block of State Street, Muscoy
• 14000 block of Caughlin Road, Phelan
• 15000 block of Sequoia Avenue, Fontana
• 15200 block of Lilac Street, Hesperia
• 12000 block of Cactus Avenue, Bloomington
• 59900 block of Phillipi Lane, Landers
• 3200 block of Duffy Street, Muscoy
• 2400 block of Dos Palmas Road, Phelan
• 13000 block of Blanco Road, Phelan
• 14000 block of Farmington Street, Hesperia
• 10300 block of Eighth Avenue, Hesperia
• 14400 block of Sheep Creek Road, Phelan
• 10800 block of Beekley Road, Phelan
• 25200 block of 4th Street, Highland
• 2100 block of Mallory Street, Muscoy
• 7500 block of Begonia Road, Phelan

Investigators arrested 10 people on suspicion of felony crimes, while 46 people were arrested on suspicion of misdemeanors, including animal cruelty, the sheriff's department announced last week. The agency named the suspects as:

• 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, ChinoJuan 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

In addition to the cockfighting birds, during the operation law enforcement also seized over $259,000 in U.S. currency, 12 firearms (including three ghost guns), 12 ounces of cocaine, 11.5 ounces of methamphetamine, and 6 grams of fentanyl, according to the sheriff's department.

The birds were relinquished to animal control services. An update on their condition was unknown.

Operation Crowing Rooster targeted rural crimes, including animal cruelty, as well as theft of copper, fuel, heavy equipment, large animals, fencing and cargo, the sheriff's department reported.

During the operation, San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies worked alongside the San Bernardino County Probation, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, and the San Bernardino County Code Enforcement. San Bernardino County Animal Care Services, Hesperia Animal Control, Hesperia Code Enforcement, and Highland Code Enforcement assisted.

Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact the Victor Valley Sheriff's 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.