United States Attorney Delia L. Smith advised residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands Friday that the Agricultural Improvement Act (P.L. 115-334), which has been in effect since Dec. 20, 2019, prohibits animal fighting in the United States, including its territories.
Smith reminds cockfighting promoters that participating in animal fighting is a felony, which could result in up to five years in prison. Since 2002, federal law has banned the shipment of fighting birds from the mainland United States to the territory. Additionally, Smith points out that federal regulations prohibit various activities related to animal fighting, including sponsoring, exhibiting, or attending these events, according to the press release.
An animal fighting venture is defined as any event where at least two animals are made to fight for purposes of sport, gambling, or entertainment. The law also forbids the buying, selling, training, transporting, shipping, delivering, or receiving of animals for the purpose of fighting, as well as the trafficking of any knives or gaffs used on birds, the press release stated.
Despite federal law prohibiting animal fighting, law enforcement agencies in our community continue to receive recent reports that cockfighting matches are ongoing. Smith noted that animal fighting prosecutions in the United States often have a close correlation to other criminal activities, including violent crime, firearms offenses and mail fraud. “Cockfighting is illegal and potentially dangerous. We must therefore continue our commitment to keeping our community safe”, Smith said.
To report information about cockfighting or other animal fighting crimes, contact the Federal Bureau of Investigations at 787-754-6000 or the United States Agriculture Department, Inspector General Office, hotline at 800-424-9121 or visit https://www.usda.gov/oig/hotline.html.
