WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The U.S. Department of Justice's Environment & Natural Resources Division issued the following news release:
A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a 2022 cockfighting operation in which he brought gaffs from Massachusetts to Rhode Island for animal fighting.
Jose Rivera, 70, was sentenced to two years of probation, a $200 fine, and a $100 special assessment.
Rivera previously pleaded guilty on April 13 to violating the Animal Welfare Act in connection with his role in a 2022 cockfighting operation. As part of his plea, Rivera admitted that he traveled from Massachusetts to Rhode Island to participate in cockfights and that he brought with him gaffs or other sharp i...