Posted By:
Jay
14:55 17Jul2007 MKW- UPDATE: Nation's Largest Cockfighting Bust -- 81 Defendants to Be Arraigned Tomorrow in Crawford County, Arkansas
VAN BUREN, AR, Jul 17 (MARKET WIRE) --
81 people will be federally charged tomorrow in Crawford County Circuit Court
in
connection with the nation's largest cockfighting raid. On May 19th, with
information provided by Last Chance for Animals Special Investigations Unit, 150
law enforcement personnel from federal, state and local law enforcement
agencies raided a crowded and popular cockfighting arena near Van Buren,
Arkansas.
Charges will include operating a gambling house, criminal use of property or
laundering criminal proceeds, misdemeanor cruelty to animals and engaging in
a continuing criminal gang, organization or enterprise.
Hayden Hise, head referee and author of the book, "Modern Day Cockfighting
Rules," and
the four property owners -- Kenneth Stanley Donelson, Cecelia Donelson, Michael
Ray Donelson and Andrea Donelson -- are among those to be charged. Kenneth
Donelson and Michael Ray Donelson are targets of a federal civil lawsuit that
seeks to seize 120 acres linked to the alleged illegal cockfighting ring.
LCA COCKFIGHTING PRESS CONFERENCE
Where: In Front Of The Crawford County Circuit Court - Division II
8 So 6th Street
Van Buren, AR 72956
When: 9:30 AM, Wednesday, July 18th
Who: Midwest Representative, Special Investigations Unit,
Last Chance for Animals
LCA would like to thank the Arkansas State Police, the Crawford County
Sheriffs department and the Crawford County District Attorney's office, as
well as the Arkansas State Drug Task Force, the U.S. Marshall, U.S. Customs,
The Office of Inspector General and the FBI.
Last Chance for Animals (LCA), a national non-profit animal rights
organization
based in Los Angeles, has been active for almost 25 years. Founded and led by
animal expert, author and actor, Chris DeRose, LCA fights for the rights of
animals by conducting investigations that expose animal cruelty, launching
public awareness campaigns, pushing animal friendly legislation and helping
prosecute animal abusers. For more information, visit www.LCAnimal.org.
Contact:
Lisa Beal
Campaigns Director
LCA (818) 681-3672
lisa@lcanimal.org
Copyright 2007, Market Wire, All rights reserved.
-0-
For Related News, Double Click on one of these codes:
[CNR] [MKW] [US] [LEN]
Tuesday, 17 July 2007 14:55:26
MKW [nMKW79152a] {EN}
ENDS