A third person was arrested on Friday in connection with an FBI raid on a property in Miami-Dade that uncovered a cockfighting operation with “several thousand” roosters, authorities said.
Marcia Newark, 70, is facing several charges, including animal cruelty and managing property for animal fighting, Miami-Dade jail records showed.
Two other people, Sergio Ruiz-Osorio, 54, and Carlos Rafael Lezcanowas, 52, were previously arrested on charges of owning or possessing animals for fighting and animal cruelty with intent to injure or kill.
According to authorities, on Oct. 3, the FBI contacted the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office after the raid at the 10-acre property in the 12300 block of Southwest 51st Street.
An arrest report said that during the search, deputies found thousands of rosters, several enclosed cock fighting training rings and rooster paraphernalia such as vitamins, syringes and medication.
Deputies then met with Newark, who is the property’s owner, who said she subleases the property to several people, but didn’t know about roosters were being trained on the property, the report said.
The next day, the report said, deputies and Miami-Dade Animal Services went back to the property and found two ponies, with one tied to a wooden post without wood and water, and appeared to be extremely malnourished, while the second pony was free roaming, but had an infection.
The ponies were then placed into the custody of animal control.
During a second search of the property on Oct. 5, authorities found the following:
A goat that couldn’t stand and had a possible eye infection since both of its eyes were shut closed
A dead goat
A goat that was struggling to breath and was on the verge of death
More than three pigs raised in the same corral without roaming space, and food and water
Animal services confiscated the animals, and Newark said she was aware of the animals’ condition, the report said.
On Friday, authorities said another goat was found in a trash bag while they were confiscating them, the report said. Two goats that were taken died after being taken.
Animal Services, the report said, euthanized 3,110 roosters.
Newark has since bonded out.